Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Lesson 3 - Management Systems & Biodiversity

Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education |Published on: February 20, 2024

Lesson Plans Grades 6-8, 3-5

Synopsis

In this lesson, students learn about urban forest management, the impact of biodiversity in urban forests, and the importance of urban forests as a climate change solution.
Students will discuss an analogy to understand forest management, collect and analyze data from an urban forest, calculate the carbon sequestration potential, identify and map invasive species in Wisconsin, and write about managing Wisconsin's urban forests in a changing climate.

Subjects: Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Mathematics

Authors: LEAF Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education

Region: North America, USA - Midwest, United States, Wisconsin

Languages: English

Positives

This interdisciplinary lesson connects concepts from biology, Earth science, math, geography, and ELA.
Students collect and analyze data from their community, making the lesson relevant and engaging.

Additional Prerequisites

This lesson is the third of four in the LEAF Urban Forest Lesson Guide 5th-8th Grade Unit. The first lesson introduces Urban Forests, and the second lesson explores their benefits.
If skipping the first two lessons, teachers must explain Urban Forests before beginning.
The resource includes a comprehensive lesson plan, background information, student documents, teacher slides, and links to additional resources.

Differentiation

Additional related resources are linked at the end of the lesson that teachers can use as extensions.
There are three options for Activity 1 to accommodate different classroom situations. The first option allows students to collect data outdoors, the second option uses an interactive web-based tool to collect data, and the third option is a worksheet with provided data that classes can use if time is limited.
Math and ELA classes can make cross-curricular connections in the calculations part of Activity 1 and the writing for the conclusion, respectively.
The Species Cards needed for the game portion in Activity 2 are not included in this resource. Teachers can have students research native and invasive species and create cards that future classes can use for this lesson.
If desired, students can move on to Lesson 4 of the LEAF Urban Forest Lesson Guide 5th-8th Grade Unit to research various groups that manage urban forests.
Teachers can extend this lesson with the idea that, in addition to urban forests, all Wisconsin forests are a climate solution. The LEAF website has more lessons teachers can use individually or as a unit to help students understand forestry in Wisconsin.

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Resource Type and Format