Diversity in Lesson Plans Using Technology

Why Save The Trees?Crossword puzzle-uses for trees. How to protect
Grades 6-9 SOL OBJECTIVES: LAtrees.
6.1,6.2,6.3d,6.5,6.6 MA 6.18,6.20,6.7,6.8,6.9website has a great article called:What Can We
SCI 6.9, 6.1 a-k, 6.2d SS USII.5 a-d, USII.7, USII.8Do to Save Trees?
PurposeFound at epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/pdfs
To understand that trees are a valuable naturalk-3.pdf
resource, and without their survival, technologyExcellent site for extended activities
and life as we know it can change drastically.Lab Project: Create a terrarium to grow and take
Contexthome.
Until the fifth grade, most students understandAssessment
that trees are a natural resource and that theyStudents will present their data in their notebooks.
supply us with everything from paper to theStudents will be able to discuss the objective of
homes which we live. Transferring the concept onthe lesson and finish the K-W-L sheet
a higher level thinking realm is one of the mostStudents will make a terrarium and experiment
difficult challenges we face teaching, and the mostwith different soils/ document data.
difficult concept children face learning. If you wereStudents will complete a final project of their
to do a K-W-L with students in the youngerchoice for a graded assignment using at least
years, all trees are the same, and there is nothree software applications WORD, PUBLISHER,
concept of how it is pureed into mash for paper,DIGITAL, VIDEO EQUIPMENT, POWER POINT,
cut into lumber to build yet alone used for energy.INSPIRATION SOFTWARE, NATIONAL
By the time they get to 5th grade studentGEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES OR WINDOWS ON
interest increases and it becomes harder to find aSCIENCE
method tokeep their interest. For kids, finding outAt the end of the week a Q&A sheet on
that there are over 20,000 types of trees, pulls inSave the Water will be passed out and will ask
their attention. For the teacher it gives plenty ofsimilar questions
room to expand and direct the curriculum andWhere does it come from?
instruction to higher level thinking skills andHow much did we have?
knowledge.What do we have now, why less?
This lesson introduces the history of trees, notWhat is water used for?
just the type of trees. It discusses why theyWhat will happen without it?
must be saved in order to keep benefit humans,What can we do to save it?
animals and our Earth. Students will learn by aboutStudents may use any resources to complete the
the history of plants and that they have beensheet.
around on the earth longer then any otherThere is a saying: "Ancestors plant trees so that
organism. This lesson will focus on the past use oftheir offspring can have shade."
our natural resource and the options we have inExtensions
saving trees to continue providing some of theLanguage: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
groundwork for the things we need to survive inMath: Measure the age of a tree by it's rings
the next century.Science: Visit a paper mill or newspaper plant
Students will be introduced to the "Tree Doctor"Social Science: Join and environmental club
and learn what they can do to help save theUSING THE NEWSPAPER- Current articles/events
trees. The will also be made aware of occupationsabout trees
that are focused in the area of forestry.Additional Resources
____________________The Wonderful World of Trees on the
Planning Aheadfreenetwork.umn.edu/kids/ website
MaterialsThe National Arbor Day Foundation: Benefits of
1 Black and white notebook (or similar) to keepTrees at arborday.org
your research and dataUSDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory
Your Online Web quest Sheet - QUESTOfound at fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu website
Computers- bookmarked portal or pagesProducts Made From Wood found at uky.edu
Printed information in case the electricity goes outAgriculture/Forestry/conners/WoodUses.pdf
and computers don't work.website
Websites can be downloaded to a CD in case theAmerican Forest & Paper Association: Pulp
internet is down, you can work off line& Paper, Fun Factsafandpa.org/Content
Worksheets-graphic organizersNavigationMenu/Pulp_and_Paper/Fun_Facts
VCR/DVD players, video and computerFun_Facts.htm
projectorsHow Trees Work for Us at borealforest.org
Software- Inspiration, National Geographic,school/trees.htm
WINDOWS on ScienceThe History of Maple Syrup in America
Motivation:members.iquest.net/~childers/maple/hist.html
In the morning have small saplings around the__________
room and the lab set for experiment.Vocabulary
Show United Streaming Video -The Biggest andAdaptation
Oldest Living Things. Found onAdjustment to environmental conditions. Young
unitedstreaming.como An Introduction to Treesopeople adapt well to change. The black spruce is
Learning About The Pasto Appreciating Treeswell adapted to Quebec's cold climate
Have students preview their QUESTO sheet. ThisBiological control
sheet will direct them to websites and activitiesThe use of natural predators and parasites to
that will help them transfer what they know,reduce the populations of insects that ravage
what they need to learn and how they canforests. The use of natural agents, such as fungi,
compile data to determine what they can do.bacteria, or viruses, to control or fight against
By using the computer lab and a main computer,undesirable species.
show the students a tabbed version of theBush
websites they will visit today. Leave a tile versionDense shrubs and stands of small trees of
on the screen so that navigating will be easier.normally unmerchantable species.
This web quest is intended to lead students toCompost (noun)
understand that our natural resources are moreA mixture of organic matter used as fertilizer. An
and more limited. That the tree has been aroundincreasing number of people are making compost
longer than any other organism and in our lifeat home to fertilize their gardens.
time we may see it become extinct. Students willCut with soil and regeneration protection
also be motivated to support the things we needHarvesting carried out taking specific measures to
to do to save the trees for a better future.prevent damage to young trees and to the soil.
DevelopmentDomestic waste
Discussion:Where do trees get the nutrients theyThe waste or garbage produced by the members
need to grow?of a family and which would be thrown out.
What do trees release into the atmosphere thatEcosystem
humans need?A system formed by the interaction of a
What do we know about tree growth and age?community of animals and plants with its
Objectiveso Students will understand howenvironment.
humans, animals, and the earth benefit fromForest ecology
treeso Students will learn about the history of theThe study of forests and their ecology, including
oldest living thing, and their futureo Students willthe application of soil science, botany, zoology, and
work through team activities and web questthe like to forestry.
online and learn how to look for specificHardwood
information.A tree whose leaves drop in the fall, as opposed
Ask students to tell you how we benefit fromto evergreens or conifers, which have needles
trees.(fir, spruce) or scales (cedar). The maple, lilac, and
Have the students look through the QUESTO andoak are examples of hardwood trees
ask individual teams to connect the informationInsecticide
from what they think the articles will be aboutA substance that destroys insects.
with something they have learned before.Mulch
As a class, between web pages, brainstorm thingsA layer of straw, bark, or other plant matter
that will help keep healthier plants.used to conserve moisture in the soil, to protect
Have poster paper up to create a mapping ofcertain fruits from rotting through contact with
ideas.the soil, and to inhibit the growth of other plants,
Have a poster board for words and definitionssuch as weeds.
students may request information about.Pesticide
The following web pages are used in the webA substance used to fight against harmful animals
quest:or plants.
Found at dsc.discovery.com- The age and size ofRegeneration
trees around the worldThe renewal of a forest. Trees begin to grow
This article will reveal the of age and size of treesagain.
around the world.Selection method
Found at dsc.discovery.com/news - Types ofA method of regenerating a forest stand and
organisms can kill treesmaintaining an uneven-aged structure by removing
This article will give students a sense of whatsome trees in all size classes either singly or in
types of organisms can kill trees.small groups or strips. The selection method is
On the freenetwork.umn.edu/kids/ site you willcarried out in sugarbushes
find activities and information.Tree breeding
United Streaming Video online -Trees: The BiggestThe application of genetic principles to the
and Oldest Living Thingsimprovement of trees, such as to solve a specific
Found at domtar.com/ARBRE/english/problem or in order to obtain a given product.
The Tree World. This site will provide a ton ofVirus
activities. Students can use the dictionary toAn ultramicroscopic infectious (capable of infecting
identify vocabulary words. Play games and takewith disease) agent.
quizzes, this site also includes experiments.