Built for high school science, agriculture, natural resources, and Forest Products CTE educators, this free, semester-long curriculum connects students to the forests, careers, and communities of the Inland Northwest. Developed in collaboration with forestry professionals, educators, and industry partners, the curriculum builds scientific understanding, introduces natural resource management concepts, and links classroom learning to real-world careers in forestry, manufacturing, wildfire management, and related fields.
Curriculum Overview
The Inland Northwest Forest Products Curriculum spans eight units and is designed to fill a semester. All lessons are designed for 50-minute class periods and include extension ideas for deeper exploration. The curriculum can be taught in sequence as a standalone Forest Products CTE course or integrated into existing science, agriculture, or natural resources classes. While developed primarily for grades 9–12, lessons can be adapted for different grade levels and local contexts.
| Unit | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tree Biology | Students explore tree anatomy, physiology, growth patterns, and local tree identification. |
| 2 | Forest Basics | Students examine the history, ownership, types, and ecological dynamics of Inland Northwest forests. |
| 3 | What Forests Provide | Students investigate the ecological, economic, and social benefits forests provide, from carbon sequestration and clean water to careers and human health. |
| 4 | Forest Health and Management Issues | Students explore forest pests, invasive species, climate change, and how to critically evaluate information about forest health. |
| 5 | Wildfire | Students examine wildfire behavior, history, smoke, safety, and the role of fire as both a natural process and a management tool. |
| 6 | Forest Management | Students learn how forests are measured, managed, harvested, and regenerated, and develop their own forest management plans. |
| 7 | Forest Products | Students trace how trees become lumber and other products, explore sawmill operations, and investigate the full range of wood-based goods. |
| 8 | Our Responsibility to Inland Forests | Students consider forest sustainability, community perspectives, and their own role as stewards through service learning and career exploration. |
Standards Alignment
Lessons are aligned with multiple academic and career-technical frameworks: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) | Idaho Science Standards | Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts | Idaho ELA Standards| Idaho Forest Products CTE Standards | Project Learning Tree’s Forest Literacy Framework. View all standards alignment here.
Access the Curriculum
This curriculum is available free to educators in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon. To receive access, complete the short request form below. You will receive a link to the full curriculum materials.
Access Curriculum
Feedback
Found an error? Have a suggestion? Your input helps keep the curriculum accurate, current, and useful for classrooms across the region. Submit feedback here.
Acknowledgments
This project was made possible with funding from the USDA Forest Service through the Wood Innovations Program. We gratefully acknowledge the Oregon Forest Resources Institute and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for sharing their forestry curricula as a foundation for this work.
Special thanks to the University of Idaho, Idaho Forest Group, Associated Logging Contractors, Idaho Department of Lands, Idaho Department of Education, Bennett Lumber, Idaho Forest Products Commission, Rayonier, Potlatch School District, Stimson Forest Products, and all the forest products experts and educators who reviewed and piloted lessons.
Contributing Authors
Haven Davis-Martinez, Idaho Forest Products Commission | Blake Manley, Western Forestry and Conservation Association | Ryer Becker, University of Idaho | Rob Keefe, University of Idaho | Lauren King, University of Idaho Extension | Lori Mackey, University of Idaho Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery | Matthan Hale, University of Idaho Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery | Kristy Tucker, Rayonier | Jenny Wolf, The Boise WaterShed | Arabelle Britton, The Boise WaterShed | Marie Price, Idaho Forest Group