The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Forest Management: A REAL World Problem

Forest Management: A REAL World Problem

A 3rd grade STEM lesson

Irene Jones

June 20, 2024

Notes for teachers

• In this lesson, students will explore and address real-world problems that affect their communities.
• Students will use a Forest Inventory Game to develop students’ awareness of of global issues related to natural resources and environmental changes.
• Students will analyze the graphs from each team to look for patterns.
• Finally, students will discuss the importance of trees and forests in the ecosystem.

List of Materials

• Books:
• All About Forests by Christina Mia Gardeski
• Inside the Forest by Stephanie Jamie
• The Forest Keeper - The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Rina Singh
• Acorn Was a Little Wild by Jen Arena
• Forest Management by Steven P. Grossberg Editor
• YouTube:
• What if All Trees Were Cut Down?
• Deforestation: Causes, Effects and Solutions
• Game:
• “Forest Management Game”
• Materials: 120 popsicle sticks for the forest manager, additional 50 popsicle sticks for “planting.”

Standards

3rd Grade Science Standard:

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• 3.L2U1.7: I can develop and use system models to describe the flow of energy from the Sun to and among living organisms.
• 3.L1U1.6: Plan and carry out investigations to demonstrate ways plants and animals react to stimuli.
• 3.L2U1.8: Construct an argument from evidence that organisms are interdependent.

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Science and Engineering Practices:

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Analyzing and Interpreting Data

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• Display data in tables and graphs, using digital tools when feasible, to reveal
• patterns that indicate relationships.
• Use data to evaluate claims about cause and effect.
• Compare data collected by different groups in order to discuss similarities and
• differences in their findings.
• Use data to evaluate and refine design solutions.

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Standards

3.R.RI.08: Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).

3.W.02: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

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Objectives:

1. Today students will discuss the impact of human activities on the environment and how human consumption of natural resources impact the environment over time.
2. What important elements change in the system of natural resources when human consumption of forest and trees increase or decrease?
3. Students will use a simulation game to explore the impact of over consumption of natural resources, specifically trees.
4. How does the rate of change influence the next steps?
5. Students will use their knowledge of over consumption of trees to speculate about the cause and effect on the environment and the world.

Agenda (5 Days - 60 minutes/ Day)

Day 1:

1. KWL Chart - Why are trees important?
2. Look at various books on forests and trees.
3. Notice and Wonder: How are trees important?
4. Forest Inventory Game 1
5. Exit Ticket: Write Down one thing they know about why trees are important.

Day 2:

1. Review KWL Chart and Notice and Wonder Chart
2. Read: The Forest Keeper - The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Rina Singh
3. What happened to the trees in the story? What did the character do to help?
4. Forest Inventory Game 2
5. Compare and contrast the results of Game 1 and Game 2.
6. Update KWL Chart and Notice and Wonder Chart
7. Exit Ticket: How can we help the forest?

Agenda (5 Days - 60 minutes/ Day)

Day 3:

1. Review the charts: Do we want to add anything?
2. Read: Forest Management by Steven P. Grossberg Editor
3. YouTube Video: What if All Trees Were Cut Down?
4. Forest Inventory Game 3: what rules can we change to save the forest?
5. Exit Ticket: What can we do to save the forest?

Day 4:

1. Review the charts: Do we want to add anything?
2. ReRead: Forest Management by Steven P. Grossberg Editor
3. YouTube Video: Deforestation: Causes, Effects and Solutions
4. Forest Inventory Game 4: what rules can we change to save the forest?
5. Exit Ticket: What is one thing you can do to help save the forest?

Day 5:

1. “Forest Inventory Game” Game 4
2. Create Stock Flow to simulate natural selection.
3. Write an informative text explaining the causes, effects, and solutions for forest management. Include details and information from previous lessons.

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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1. What important elements are need to maintain forest health?
1. Does a healthy forest mean having lots of trees?
2. What patterns or trends emerge over time and how fast or slow are things changing?
3. Where might a change have a long-lasting effect?
4. How can we use what we now about forest management to identify possible leverage?
5. How does the rate of change influence the next steps?

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Forest Management Game require students to work in groups of 3-4: Forest Manager, Record Keeper, Lumberjack..
• After the game, it’s time to bring the lesson home. Ask the students the following questions:
• What happens if all trees are gone?
• What happens if there are too many trees?
• What can we do to maintain a healthy?
• Why do we need trees and forests?

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Assessment

Students will be assessed using the following information:

• completed information and data collection in data journals
• completion of the game
• student analysis of data collected and anchor charts (KWL, Notice and Wonder, exit tickets, etc…)
• completed compare and contrast concept chart
• completed writing assignment

Differentiation

Accommodations will be provided for EL students and students who are nonreaders:

• read aloud from YouTube
• visual aids: project the lessons on Interactive TV.
• teacher modeling
• vocabulary Cards in bold print.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Extension

• Write an informative report on causes, effects, and solutions to forest management. Give reasons and support of evidence from the lesson and anchor charts.

Enrichment:

• How does Arizona manage their forests?
• Take a field trip to the local forest managers.