High school students can apply scientific processes, higher- order thinking skills, investigate topics in depth, and conduct service-learning action projects.
Click on the tabs below for student handouts and other resources. Some materials are available free to download or by attending a PLT workshop
Forestry high school class scope and sequence (from the University of Wisconsin)
- Focus on Forests
Contains 14 lessons to expand student understanding of and appreciation for the forested lands throughout North America. The activities provide an opportunity for hands-on study of forest resources while addressing concepts in biology, civics, ecology, economics, forest management, and other subjects.
Introductory video titled Rooted in the Future about forest ecology in Minnesota from Dovetail partners and the University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center
Subjects: Life Science, Social Studies
Lessons:- Monitoring Forest Health
- Story of Succession
- Who Owns America's Forests?
- Tough Choices
- The Nature of Fire
- Forest to Faucet
- Forest Invaders
- Climate Change and Forests
- Words to Live By
To get the materials, contact [email protected] to set up a training.
- Focus on Risk
This activity guide helps students explore aspects of environmental and human health risks that affect their everyday lives. Hands-on activities allow students to learn about risk assessment, risk communication, risk perception, and risk management.
Subjects: Math, English Language Arts, Social Studies
Lessons:- What is Risk?
- Things Aren't Always What They Seem
- Chances Are…Understanding Probability and Risk
- Risk Assessment: Tools of the Trade
- Communicating Risk
- Weighing the Options: A Look at Tradeoffs
- Decision-Making: Ecological Risk, Wildfires, and Natural Disasters
- Taking Action: Reducing Risk in Your School or Community
To get the materials, contact [email protected] to set up a training.
- Municipal Solid Waste
This activity guide introduces waste management issues and options using hands-on experiences, strategies, and tools to make informed decisions and choices on waste management issues.
Subjects: Social Studies, Science
Lessons:- The Waste Stream
- Source Reduction
- Recycling and Economics
- Composting
- Waste-to-Energy
- Landfills
- Where Does Your Garbage Go?
- Take Action: Success Stories and Personal Choices
To get the materials, contact [email protected] to set up a training.
- Places We Live
Focusing on place-based education, this module helps young citizens create a bond with their own community and explore community environmental decisions.
Places We Live Correlations to Next Generation Science Standards
Optional: Use these aerial photos of three Minnesota places to accompany activity three.
Available for download or purchase
- Biodiversity
Three in-depth activities give students to examine broader concepts and larger connections—biological, political, cultural, ethical, and economic. Students learn how biodiversity affects decisions about growth, development, energy use, water quality, and health.
Biodiversity (E-Book)- $9.95
Subject: Life Science, Physical Science
Lessons:- Global Invaders
- Protected Areas: Issues an Analysis
- Potatoes, Pesticides, and Biodiversity
Optional resources:
- Biotechnology
Our Biotechnology Series is designed for high school and community college educators in the fields of Biology, Environmental Science, Social Studies, and Agriculture. A special effort has been made to construct activities that support instruction in AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and AP Human Geography. This activity guide was created as a supplement to the "Focus on Risk" curriculum.
Biotechnology (E-Book) $9.95 | (Printed Guide) $19.95
Subjects: Physical Science
Lessons:
Introduction to Biotechnology- Biotechnology and You
- Bioremediation
- Biotechnology and Human Health
- Forest Biotechnology
- Forests of the World
Created with the World Forestry Center, this activity guide helps students understand and appreciated the diversity of world forest environments, with an emphasis on human interaction with those environments.
Forests of the World (E-Book)- $9.95
Lessons:- Making the Global Connection
- What Is a Forest?
- Mapping the World's Forests
- Analyzing Patterns of Forest Change
- Understanding the Effects of Forest Uses
- Seeking Sustainability: A Global Response
- Exploring the World Marketplace
- Making Consumer Choices
- Researching Forests Around the World
- Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers
Contains 4 hands-on instructional activities that help youth research different forest sector careers to learn what it takes to perform these jobs, and practice managing and monitoring forest resources. Designed to be flexible, the activities can be used as individual, stand-alone lessons, or all together as a cohesive unit of instruction.
Green Jobs Youth Personality Quiz - Take a quick, simple, interactive quiz designed for youth ages 12-25. Then get recommendations for a rewarding green career path that suits your personality.
Green Jobs: Exploring Forest Careers (E-Book) $15.00
Subject: Social Studies
Lessons:- Who Works in This Forest?
- If You Were the Boss
- Monitoring Forest Health
- Seeking Sustainability
- Self- assessment of STEM skills
- GreenSchools
GreenSchools offers five hands-on, student-driven, service-learning investigations. Each investigation guides students through collecting and analyzing on-site data, developing recommendations for improving their school, and presenting recommendations to school leadership. Grants are available to help students transform their recommendations into reality. Your school can save money while improving the school's:- Energy - Students investigate how much energy their school uses, the main sources of that energy, and ways to implement energy-saving strategies.
- Environmental Quality - Students investigate areas where improvements can be made in indoor air quality, transportation, chemical use, and more.
- School Site - Students investigate natural habitats, wildlife, trees, grounds maintenance practices, and ways to make improvements to their school site.
- Waste & Recycling - Students investigate how much waste their school generates and where it goes, as well as recycling and composting efforts.
- Water - Students investigate the source, cost, and quality of their school's water supply, and ways to enhance current water conservation practices
All GreenSchools Investigations (free download)
Green Schools Investigations (Printer Guide) $34.95
Online course (optional), 6 CEUs, $24.99 or $49.99
- SE Forests and Climate Change
Contains 14 in-depth activities on how climate change affects forests and people. Although developed for educators in the southeastern U.S., most activities can be done anywhere in the United States. Students learn how forests sequester carbon, strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to change. Includes many online tools, resources, and videos.
Includes access to full book, all student pages, and videos. You will be required to create a username and password, just to track who is accessing the book
Subjects: Earth Science, Life Science
Supplemental Resources
- Carbon Station Cards for activity #7 "Carbon on the Move"
- Southeastern Forests and Climate Change STEM Connections
- Climate Change and Minnesota— FAQs, current research, reports
- Minnesota Forest Types
- All About Minnesota's Forests and Trees: A Primer
- Trees Likely to Thrive in Minnesota's Changing Climate
- Articles to accompany Activity #4:
- U.S. Forest Service infographic about forest carbon cycle
- Tips For Teaching Your Students About Climate Change And Global Warming - NPR
- Handbook: How to have conversations about climate change
- Climate Change and Forests in Minnesota: Alternative Futures
- Teaching With iTree
Contains 3 hands-on activities on tree identification and measurement. Students then use the free iTree tool (developed by the U.S. Forest Service), students estimate values of trees and their role in mitigating greenhouse gases, sequestering carbon, improving air quality, intercepting stormwater, and lowering a building's energy use. Also available in Spanish, French, and Mandarin.
Free download
Subjects: Math, Science, Social Studies
Lessons:- Tree Benefits and Identification
- Tree Value
- Land Manager Role Play
Supplemental materials: