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PLT’s New Activity Collection for Grades 9-10: Forests, Water & People

Project Learning Tree’s newest activity collection includes three inquiry-based lessons that examine the connections between forests and watersheds while investigating their impacts on communities.

PLT and the USDA Forest Service collaborated to create a special digital activity collection – Forests, Water & People. The lessons are designed for educators to use with learners in grades 9-10, with variations for grades 6-8.

Hands-on Learning

The three downloadable activities invite students to investigate the relationship between forests and watersheds as they investigate the source of their own drinking water. It’s place-based learning that also incorporates technology to study our environment.

From Tap Root to Tap Water: Students use maps to identify local watersheds and forest cover, evaluating the extent to which their community’s water supply depends on forests.
Mapping Your Community Through Time: Students investigate the history of their community and make map overlays to look for patterns in how its housing, water systems, and green spaces have changed over time and in relation to each other.
Watershed Watch: Students examine different perspectives on a community issue related to forests and watersheds, and plan to take action on a local watershed issue.

Forests to Faucets 2.0 Toolbox

In each activity, you’ll find a special Toolbox section. Using the GIS mapping tool, Forests to Faucets 2.0, created by the USDA Forest Service, learners explore watersheds in their own communities. You’ll be able to see why sustainable forest management is vital to maintaining quality drinking water supplies.

Backgrounder

New to this collection are “backgrounders”, which highlight relevant information on activity topics. You’ll find things like key vocabulary terms and ways to engage students in each activity.

Download your copy of Forests, Water & People today at shop.plt.org.

Connecting to Standards

Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core ELA Standards

United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These 17 goals were adopted by all UN members in 2015 in an effort to “improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Connecting to Careers

Idaho Resources

Laws protect Idaho Forests

Idaho Forestry Best Management Practices – Forest Water Quality (video from University of Idaho, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences)

Forest Fast Break: Water

Forest Issue Brief: How Do Forests Affect our Drinking Water?

Water & Forests

Journey of Idaho Water (video from Idaho Farm Bureau Federation)

General Resources

Healthy Forests, Clean Water Poster

U.S. Geological Survey’s National Map

Forests to Faucets 2.0 Data Explorer – USDA Forest Service

How’s My Waterway – EPA Tool

Watershed Story Maps from Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

There are many more resources on each lesson’s page linked above.

How climate change is affecting Idaho

In 2021, the University of Idaho published its Idaho Climate-Economy Impact Assessment, outlining the likely ways the changing climate will affect major economic sectors. Here are the key findings for the forest sector:

Climate affects Idaho’s forests through temperature and precipitation. Idaho’s forests have warmed in the last few decades and projected future climate change suggests continued warming, as well as greater annual precipitation and reduced summer precipitation.
How Idaho’s trees respond to climate change will vary depending on species and location. For example, some lower elevation trees will respond less favorably to hotter, drier conditions while trees at higher elevations will experience more favorable conditions associated with warming and longer growing seasons. Because understanding of future precipitation and tree response is limited, the changes in Idaho’s trees are uncertain.
Recent climate conditions have led to widespread and severe forest disturbances in Idaho. For example, wildfires and bark beetles benefit from warmer, drier conditions. Future climate change will lead to more frequent and severe disturbances, affecting tree growth and survival. Climate change and enhanced disturbances may lead to increased susceptibility of forests to disturbances and reduce their ability to recover.
Climate change will impact ecosystem services provided by forests, including timber, recreational opportunities and habitat for other species.

Read the key findings for all sectors, including how forests can provide opportunities and solutions, here.

Engage high school students about this topic by downloading a FREE copy of Southeastern Forests and Climate Change from PLT. Don’t let the “Southeastern Forests” title deter you—it’s easily adaptable to our state!

Activity Highlights:

Climate change impacts on forest ecosystems
The role of forests in sequestering carbon, and
Strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to changing climatic conditions.

Engage elementary and middle school students about this topic using Explore Your Environment’s Unit of Instruction: Climate Change.

Other resources to learn about climate change and engage your students:

Idaho Science Standards related to climate change: 5-ESS-3.1, MS-ESS-3.3, MS-ESS-3.5, HS-LS-2.6, HS-ESS-2.2, HS-ESS-2.4, HS-ESS-2.6, HS-ESS-3.1, HS-ESS-3.4, HS-ESS-3.5, HS-ESS-3.6

PLT’s Connecting for Health and Planet

For grades 3-5, with adaptations for 6-8
A growing body of research confirms that children are healthier, happier, more creative, and have better knowledge retention when they consistently play and learn outdoors. Some benefits of time outdoors for youth include:

Increased attentiveness and better recollection of information, even after they go back inside.
Improved performance on tests and other external measures of knowledge gains.
Greater feelings of competence and motivation to learn.
Elevated mood and better ability to regulate emotions.
Decreased stress and anxiety.
More physical activity and improved physical health.
Improved balance, coordination, and problem-solving skills through less structured play.

This Project Learning Tree activity collection includes three lessons that invite learners to investigate how being outside—and among trees, specifically—provides people with many different physical, emotional, social, and learning benefits.

GO TO Connecting for Health and Planet

Free WEBINAR

Supporting Students Social Emotional Learning Through Nature-based Activities

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 | 4 – 5 pm PST / 5 – 6 pm MST

The first 5 attendees of this 1-hour webinar will get a free digital copy! Register HERE.

Connecting for Health and Planet lessons

PLT provides three downloadable student pages and additional resources for each:

Connecting to Standards

Idaho Standards – ELA/Math/Science

STEM Strategies

Streaming/on-demand

Natural Inquirer’s Virtual Learning Adventure – Nature Health Benefits LIVE: https://naturalinquirer.org/resource/virtual-learning-adventure-nature-health-benefits-live/

More Resources

Free family activities to get outside; https://www.plt.org/activities-for-families/

SEL through Nature: https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/sel-with-nature/

Back to Nature Activities: https://www.plt.org/news/back-to-school-back-to-nature

BIRDS

Birds are a wonderful introduction to the natural world and happen to be just outside your door! Whether in town or in the country, birds are usually within easy eyeshot or earshot. Project Learning Tree and American Bird Conservancy collaborated to develop a special new digital activity collection–Together for Birds. The lessons are designed to use with K-5 students. The collection enhances PLT lessons with bird-specific content, including digital student pages, enrichment experiences, recommended reading, forest facts, accompanying posters and charts.

Download your copy here (FREE until December 31)

Free Birds for All WEBINAR – October 26, 2023. 2-3 pm MT/1-2 pm PT. Watch the webinar recording, access abundant resources that were shared, and see the webinar chat here.

Together for Birds includes three lessons (Don’t miss the download button above so you can access the lessons).

PLT provides downloadable student pages and additional resources for each:

Connecting to Standards

Idaho Standards-ELA/Math/Science: Birds and Bugs

Idaho Standards-ELA/Math/Science: Neighborhood + Backyard Naturalist

Idaho Standards-ELA/Science: Trees as Habitats

Next Generation Science Standards

Common Core English Language Arts and Math

Connecting to Careers

Read how Lindsey Webb, a Senior Wildlife Biologist for Manulife Investment Management Timberland and Agriculture Inc (Manulife), manages forests for valuable habitat for wildlife, including birds at Forest Careers: For the Birds.

Local Resources

Teachin’ Turkey – FREE event for teachers! (Space is limited)
October 26, 2023. 4:30-6:30 pm, MK Nature Center, 600 S Walnut, Boise
Email lori.wilson@idfg.idaho.gov for more information and to sign up.

Wildlife Express from Idaho Fish and Game is a wonderful online newspaper for elementary readers. To support your Together for Birds learning, we recommend the Songbirds issue from April 2021 and the Forest Grouse issue from October 2020. Don’t miss the associated learning activities here and here. Be sure to check out other timeless archived titles.

Science Trek from Idaho Public Television is another terrific educational resource, with videos and other educational materials. To support your Together for Birds learning, we recommend these topics:
Bird Migration
Birds of Prey
Owls
Urban Wildlife

Forests and Wildlife activity sheet

Wildlife Habitat varies from forest to forest

Why Forest Animals Live Where They Do

Idaho Birding Trail – over 250 sites statewide