Phase Four
How do Humans Impact the Forest?
Lesson Twenty-Four
How do people around my school use the forest?
Sequence
Students will make conclusions about the ways that fellow students throughout the school use the forest, based on the questionnaire distributed in Lesson 18. Using this as an introduction, students will continue their discussion and consider other possible uses of our forests.
Resources
Document camera
Photos representing other uses of the forest
Chromebooks/Computers (Google Form Access)
National Geographic. (2017, August 21). Climate 101: Deforestation [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic-J6hcSKa8
Assessment
Formative:
Individually created graphs will be handed in for assessment.
Exit Slip: What ways in which the forest is used would you like to learn more about?
Differentiation
Rather than photography, students can draw or write (preferred means of representation).
Video captions will be turned on.
Lesson Twenty-Five
What are Ribbon Trees and how do they relate to the Medicine Wheel?
Sequence
Students will learn about Ribbon Trees, Indigenous meaning and basic Medicine Wheel teachings, focusing on balance. Students will consider why forests are important for maintaining balance.
Resources
SMART Board or Projector
Strips of Fabric (Kinesthetic Manipulative)
Medicine Wheel Elements Handout (list of medicine wheel teaching words, ie. east, tobacco, wind, etc.)
Glue
Forest Journals
Crayons
Poster Set - Native Reflections
Bisbeejim. (2007, September 18). The medicine wheel – 1 of 3 [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIGrFHy463g
Fitzhugh (Parks Canada). (2016, June 1). Ribbon trees a traditional indigenous practice [Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.fitzhugh.ca/ribbon-trees-a-traditional-indigenous-practice/
NativeReflections. (n.d.). Aspects of the Medicine Wheel poster set. Retrieved from http://www.nativereflections.com/products.php?view=5364&sr=wh-01
Assessment
Formative:
Forest Journal Review
Circle Discussion
Thumbs Up/Down for Understanding
Questioning
Differentiation
Partner work allows for discussion and self assessment.
Video captions will be turned on.
Students may draw use pictures or text to create their Forest Journal Medicine Wheel.
Lesson Twenty-Six
Field trip to local forest with an Elder.
Discuss traditional ways that Indigenous people connected with and used the land to survive.
Sequence
The class will travel to a local forest park (e.g. Weaselhead Flats) and learn about Indigenous Ways of Knowing in the context of this forest park, as well as overall lessons about ecosystems and the interconnectedness of life.
Resources
Field Trip Requirements:
Arrange guest speaker (Elder) in advance and discuss traditional medicinal herbs that may be found in the local forest setting (to be used for future lessons).
Arrange parent supervisors.
Field Trip Supplies: Permission slips, Bus/Transportation, lunches, medications
Elder: Tobacco, payment (gift card)
Student Tools:
- Forest Journals
- Writing Materials
- Art Materials
- Bags to collect leaf samples.
- Cheat Sheets (differentiation)
Inside Education. (n.d.). Jumpingpound demonstration forest. Retrieved from http://www.insideeducation.ca/classroom-field-programs/field-programs/jumpingpound/
The Weaselhead Glenmore Park Preservation Society. (n.d.). Outdoor Programs. Retrieved from http://theweaselhead.com/education/outdoorprograms/
Assessment
Formative:
Observation
Hand Signal
Think-Pair-Share
Differentiation
Ensure that the space being visited is accessible for all students.
Multiple types of art materials and other supplies to complete their art artifact.
Creation of a reminder “cheat sheet” for those students who may need additional prompting to identify local deciduous and coniferous trees.
Multiple modes of the journaling and the creation of the art artifact will be accepted.
Lesson Twenty-Seven
How did humans use the forest?
What gifts do the trees, plants, and animals give us?
Sequence
Students will lead a discussion about their experiences from the field trip, discussing ideas that have been reinforced, things that they have learned, and ask any additional questions that they have. The remainder of the planned activities of the day serve to review and reinforce the previous days knowledge.
Resources
Forest Journals
Instructions printed out and taped to each station.
Wild Craft Game (x2):
- Cheat sheet of rules
Supplies for Planting and Pressing:
- Paper Egg Cartons
- Soil
- Water
- Spoons
- Seeds (yarrow, thyme, calendula)
- Grow lights/window
- Calendula flowers
- Flower press (x2)
Pepper & Pine. (2015, December 23). How to play wild craft! | An herbal adventure game [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLNys4VmBbU
Assessment
Formative:
Observation
Think-Pair-Share
Oral Questioning
Wonder Wall Review
Differentiation
Students may work individually or within small groups.
Lesson Twenty-Eight
What kinds of trees are there?
Sequence
Based on previously acquired knowledge, the students will classify the leaves that they collected during the field trip (Lesson 26). Further, the students will be required to complete a writing assignment that includes research paragraphs, an explanation on why leaves change colour, as well as a poem.
Resources
Leaf Classification (Teachers Pay Teachers)
- 80 paper lunch bags
- Glue
- Craft materials
- Word processors
- Writing materials
- Photocopies of directions
Research:
- Library (books)
- Computers
Acts/Regulations:
- Provide cheat sheets of the regulations
Differentiation Strategies:
- Cheat sheets
Voice recorder
Teachers Pay Teachers. (n.d.) Leaf classification and collection for intermediate grades with writing portion. Retrieved from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Leaf-Classification-and-Collection-for-Intermediate-Grades-with-Writing-Portion-2847272
Assessment
Formative:
Present the art artifact from the field trip.
Share poem from Teachers Pay Teachers with an elbow buddy.
Observation
Exit Task: Two questions for speakers in next lesson.
Differentiation
Ensure that the space being visited is accessible for all students.
Multiple types of art materials and other supplies to complete their art artifact.
Creation of a reminder “cheat sheet” for those students who may need additional prompting to identify local deciduous and coniferous trees.
Multiple modes of the journaling and the creation of the art artifact will be accepted.
Lesson Twenty-Nine
What impacts do industry and economy have on our forest ?
Sequence
Students will learn from experts about forest uses in Alberta. Two experts will be invited to discuss the multiple ways that forests are used and protected within Alberta. This will lead into discussions related to common issues and/or concerns with conservation efforts.
Resources
2 Thank You cards
Journals
Writing Materials
Word Processors
Assessment
Formative:
Students to ask questions to presenters.
Students to enter into a classroom discussion about what the presenters have discussed.
Exit Task: Forest Journal entry of something new they learned today, concerns they have or a general reflection.
Differentiation
Hard copies of the presentations to be provided to students, if possible.
Writing can be either paper or electronic based.
Voice recording based on student need.
Lesson Thirty
What are the common human uses of forest landscapes in the Canadian parkland?
Sequence
After analyzing the perspective of sources, the authenticity of the information, and discussion on how to cite sources of information, students will participate in a whole class discussion around completing research. Students will also research the national parklands in Canada.
Resources
Computer/Chromebooks
Internet
Forest Journals
Library
Maps
Differentiation Strategies (worksheets, cheat sheets, checklists)
Government of Canada. (2018). Parks Canada: Map of completing the parks system. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/cnpn-cnnp/carte-map
Assessment
Formative:
Observation
Review Forest Journals for the research which was completed for the national parkland. This will ensure that the students will be on the right track for the completion of their own research.
Differentiation
Checklists to be provided to students to help guide their research.
Students may rely on books (library), or computers to complete their research.
Worksheets with more of a question/answer style can also be distributed for those students who may require additional support through the research process.
For those students who require an additional challenge, students could also be encouraged to look at the effects that a certain user would have not only on the trees of the forest, but the ecosystem as a whole.
Lesson Thirty-One
What’s the damage?
Sequence
Based on the information that the students collected in the Lesson 30, a class a graph will be created that shows how the forest is being used in the areas that they researched.
Resources
Computers/Chromebooks
Internet
Forest Journals
Library
Assessment
Formative:
Observation
Class Discussion
Wonder Wall Review
Differentiation
Students can work electronically, and receive help from peers in the creation of the graph.
Students can work with their teams from the previous lesson, or provide information individually.
Lesson Thirty-Two
What are some effective conservation methods?
Sequence
Students will discover conservation efforts that are used across Canada by understanding the successes and setbacks, as well as the impacts on the ecology (including wildlife).
Resources
Computers/Chromebook
SMART Board or Projector
Internet
Forest Journals
Library (books)
Video player (screen)
Differentiation Strategies: Checklists & Worksheets
Alberta Environment. (n.d.). Tree improvement and adaptation programs. Retrieved from https://www.alberta.ca/tree-improvement-and-adaptation.aspx
Government of Alberta. (2019). Indigenous wisdom advisory panel. Retrieved from https://www.alberta.ca/indigenous-wisdom-advisory-panel.aspx
Parks Canada. (2013, September 17). La Mauricie National Park is being restored to health [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kehQz4iL5JM&feature=youtu.be
Parks Canada. (2016, May 27). Bring back the boreal: A story about Cape Breton Highlands National park [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRoCmiU--T0
Parks Canada. (2018). A natural priority – A report on Parks Canada’s conservation and restoration program. Retrieved from https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/agence-agency/bib-lib/rapports-reports/core-2018
Assessment
Formative:
Observation
Forest Journals
Checklists
Differentiation
Checklists to be provided to students to help guide their research.
Students may rely on books (library), or computers to complete their research.
Worksheets with more of a question/answer style can also be distributed for those students who may require additional support through the research process.
Students may work in pairs or individually.
Lessons Thirty-Three to Thirty-Five
Inform Yourself:
Phase 4 Presentation Task
Sequence
Students will complete a summative assessment for Phase 4 of this unit plan. This project involves using what they have learned about conservation to give a presentation about a particular park to a younger grade.
Resources
Computers/Chromebooks
Art materials
Voice recording
Cameras
(Materials to be finalized/determined based on the selected artifact and method of presentation of the information.)
Assessment
Formative:
This task will be marked based on a rubric (summative assessment), however, as it is similar to the final unit task, it will also act as a formative assessment for the final unit assignment.
Summative:
Presentation
Teacher Notes:
Following this summative assessment, the students and the teacher will have an opportunity to debrief student performance in this task and discuss ways to improve for the final unit assignment. Additionally, changes to the rubric can be made based on students’ feedback and performance (co-create the final rubric).
Differentiation
Students may work in small groups (max 3), or individually.
Students may select park of their interest.
Artifact can be in any format that will convey the required information.
Students should be encouraged to explore freely and make connections that they are both passionate about and where multiple perspectives could be explored.