Tree-rings and Forest Fire Ecology Lessons and Activities

Tips for Designing your own Teacher Workshop

Some workshop tools that could be handy when designing your own:
-Activity/Lesson/Unit Design Brainstorming worksheet - worksheet to process what kind of activity, lesson, or unit you (the teacher) are thinking of creating.

-Teacher Lesson Template - Template to use for final lesson to be shared with the Tree Ring laboratory for publication on their site.

 

Lessons and Activities

Middle school Unit

-Introduction to Fire Ecology (Lesson 1 of 6) - Key concepts: Ponderosa Pine ecosystems, abiotic and biotic factors, and healthy v. unhealthy ponderosa pine ecosystems.

-Fire Triangle (Lesson 2 of 6) - Key concepts: 3 essential elements of flame, wildfire, and fire regime triangles.

-Matchstick Forest (Lesson 3 of 6) - Key concepts: Lab to help compare difference between historic forests and present-day forests.

-Types of Wildfire (Lesson 4 of 6) - Key concepts: Three types of wildfires - ground fire, surface fire, crown fire.

-Forest Fire Progression (Lesson 5 of 6) - Key concepts: Ponderosa Pine forest density, healthy Ponderosa Pine forest, results of forest fire suppression of the 20th century.

-Tree Cookie Lab (Lesson 6 of 6) - Key concepts: Analyzing fire scarred tree 'cookie'.

High School lesson -Matchstick Forest and Fire Progression - Key concepts: Ponderosa Pine forest density, healthy Ponderosa Pine forest, forest density today and in the past. 

Elementary School lesson -Charcoal Forest Activity -  Key concepts: Reading activity using the Charcoal Forest book by Beth Peluso.

Resources For Lessons and Activities

-Fire Ecology Powerpoint (For use with Lessons 1, 2, and 4.)

-Fire Progression Powerpoint (For use with Lessons 5 and 6.)

-Fire Storm Video (For use with Lesson 1.)

-Pre-Post Survey (For use with Lessons 1 and 6.)

-Fire Scarred Tree Cookie Photo (For use with Lesson 6.)

-Example of Fire Triangle made of popsicle sticks (Lesson 2)

-Ponderosa Pine Forest Fire Simulation worksheet (To help think through and design a matchstick forest experiment.)

 

Matchstick Forest Photos and Videos below are for use with Lesson 3.

Historic Matchstick' Forests at 0, 20, and 40 degrees.

Pre-burn Photo at 0°

Post-burn Photo at 0°

Video - 0°

Pre-burn Photo at 20°  

Post-burn Photo at 20°

Video - slope 20°

Pre-burn Photo at 40°

Post-burn Photo at 40°

Video - slope 40°

Modern Dense 'Matchstick' Forests at 0, 20, and 40 degrees.

Pre-burn Photo at 0°

Post-burn Photo at 0°

Video -  0°

Pre-burn Photo at 20°

Post-burn Photo at 20°

Video - slope 20°

Pre-burn Photo at 40°

Post-burn Photo at 40°

Video - slope 40°

All Modern Post-burn Photo