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All About Trees

Canada's Forests Teaching Kits, published by the Canadian Association Forestry Association (CFA) provides a tremendous resource for teachers to use in the classroom. For example, in reviewing the teaching kits with a Focus on Numbers perspective, teachers of mathematics might consider the following for use in their classroom as part of an integrated unit on the environment.

Teaching Kit Volume 4: Source of Life: Sustainable Forests

Lesson 2: Disease, Pests and Fires, Oh My (target audience grades 4 and 7)

Summary:
This active lesson simulates the effects of natural disturbances on forest communities and explores both the good and bad impacts of those disturbances.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will:

  • State a prediction and hypothesis based on an observed pattern of events
  • Compile and display data by hand or computer, in a variety of formats
  • Describe interactions between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem

Lesson # 4: Changing Boundaries (target audience grade 7)

Summary:
Students will assume the role of scientists to study and predict the effects of climate change on forest boundaries.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will:

  • State a prediction and a hypothesis based on background information or an observed pattern of events (e.g., predict what an ecosystem will look like in 25 years based on characteristics of the area and the long term changes in similar sites).
  • Defend a given position on an issue or problem based on their findings (e.g., defend their decision to increase or decrease hunting or fishing quotas for a particular animal).
  • Identify and evaluate potential applications of findings (e.g., determine the maximum allowable number of visitors in a sensitive area such as an ecological reserve or a park).

Look at this kit and others at: www.canadianforestry.com.

Tree Information:

There are interesting data in each of the kits that can enhance units of study. This is one example.

The average Canadian uses one 30-metre tree each year for lumber, paper products, etc. One mature tree can:

  • Absorb as many as 7, 000 dust particles per litre of air
  • Absorb 75% of the CO2 produced by the average car
  • Provide a day's oxygen for up to 4 people
  • Lift up to 4,000 litres of water from the ground and release it into the air

Check page 28 of kit: Volume 2: Canada's Forests - A Breath of Fresh Air.