Forest Management - Smallburg Forest Collaborative Project
Gold level
Published on 8/17/2012
Like 17
Learning objectives
- How to collaboratively write a persuasive proposal & create an engaging presentation for approval of their project plan for the forest land.
- How to use OneNote to collect, refine, and collaborate on research and product creation.
- That different stakeholders view land differently, despite of, or in support of, environmental impacts.
Created for
Ages 11 - 13
Subject
Biology
Environment
Geography
Language arts and literacy
Natural Sciences
Twenty-first century skills
21st Century Skills
Collaboration
Communication
Knowledge building & critical thinking
Global awareness & civic literacy
Problem solving & innovation (creativity)
Student self-assessment
Required hardware
PC
Instructional approach
Project based learning (PBL)
Personalized learning
Learning activity details
Background
The issues relating to forest management can be as complicated as the forests themselves. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how forested lands should be used. When the land or a portion of the land is old-growth forest, the issues can be even more complicated, as old-growth forestlands are rare.
Project
The residents of Smallburg, USA have just received a very generous gift of forested land from a wealthy landowner. The landowner has donated 200 acres of forested land, some of which is old-growth forest. The only condition about the land use is that the town council members must agree on its use.
There are various groups in the town that will make a recommendation for the use of the land at the next town council meeting. The council will then vote about how to use the land. Their vote must be unanimous or the land is returned to the landowner.
The following groups will be presenting their opinions to the town council:
1. Scientists
2. School Board
3. Outdoor Club
4. Home Builders
5. Strip Mall Developer
Tasks
• Read the Fact Sheet on the next page about the Smallburg forest.
• Research more information about your group, forest and land management.
• Discuss your opinions with your group members.
• Write a formal proposal, using your best persuasive writing techniques, stating why the land should be used for your purpose.
• Create a presentation to persuade the town council to vote for your proposal.
• Present your presentation to the town council (your teachers), who will decide who "wins" and gets the land.
(Based on the project outlined here: http://www.bsu.edu/eft/treetops/p/teachers/classroom_forestManagementIssues.html)
The issues relating to forest management can be as complicated as the forests themselves. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how forested lands should be used. When the land or a portion of the land is old-growth forest, the issues can be even more complicated, as old-growth forestlands are rare.
Project
The residents of Smallburg, USA have just received a very generous gift of forested land from a wealthy landowner. The landowner has donated 200 acres of forested land, some of which is old-growth forest. The only condition about the land use is that the town council members must agree on its use.
There are various groups in the town that will make a recommendation for the use of the land at the next town council meeting. The council will then vote about how to use the land. Their vote must be unanimous or the land is returned to the landowner.
The following groups will be presenting their opinions to the town council:
1. Scientists
2. School Board
3. Outdoor Club
4. Home Builders
5. Strip Mall Developer
Tasks
• Read the Fact Sheet on the next page about the Smallburg forest.
• Research more information about your group, forest and land management.
• Discuss your opinions with your group members.
• Write a formal proposal, using your best persuasive writing techniques, stating why the land should be used for your purpose.
• Create a presentation to persuade the town council to vote for your proposal.
• Present your presentation to the town council (your teachers), who will decide who "wins" and gets the land.
(Based on the project outlined here: http://www.bsu.edu/eft/treetops/p/teachers/classroom_forestManagementIssues.html)