BIO
520 INSTRUMENTATION
FORESTRY
LESSON PLAN INCORPORATING MEL
EQUIPMENT
MIKE EMENAKER
July 26, 2004

UNIT
PLAN
FORESTRY
Objectives: S 1. The learner shall demonstrate proficiency using a dichotomous key to identify trees.
S. 2. The learner shall recognize common trees native to Northern Indiana by sight.
S 3. The learner shall explore products that originate from the Indiana forest.
S 4. The learner shall investigate careers in Forestry and jobs dependent on forest lands and
products.
S 5. The learner shall design recreational uses of the forest and forest lands.
Vocabulary: dichotomous key
alternate leaf position
Hardwoods - opposite leaf position
Softwoods - simple leaf
compound leaf
doubly compound leaf
varied leaves
leaf margins
entire margin
career
Materials: Textbook: Managing Our Natural Resources
Video
Dry erase boards
Overheads - Transparencies
Handouts
Computers and Programs
Outside
Resources: MEL
Cabinet Sets (Inventory Key included)
Teaching Strategies: Lecture
Group Activities (labs)
Individual projects, reading
Field trips
Outside labs ( MEL Cabinet sets )
LESSON ONE
Objective: The learner shall demonstrate proficiency using a dichotomous key to identify trees.
(Use of a dichotomous key to identify trees of Indiana)
Materials: Fresh tree branches with leaves, overhead with dichotomous key, transparencies, hand-out
(dichotomous key)
Outside
Resources: MEL - XVI - Naturalist H
Cue Set: Small tree branches and leaves piled on a table (gets students' attention)
Whole Group: Lecture and demonstrations on use of dichotomous key. Vocabulary words explained (notes).
(best shot)
Hand-out Student copy of dichotomous key
MEL
- Eastern Tree Guide
Guided
Practice: Student use remainder of period practicing tree identification with samples provided.
(Informal-individual or groups)
Closure: Ask questions involving vocabulary words as related to dichotomous key.
Formative
Assessment: Monitor student guided practice
Student questions
Student participation
Student time on task
LESSON TWO
Objective: The learner shall recognize common trees native to Northern Indiana by sight.
(Tree identification using dichotomous key)
Materials: Overhead-Transparencies
Student hand-outs key
Outside
Resources: MEL
- XVI - Naturalist H
Cue Set: Different tree samples
Review of trees
Whole Group: Lecture / demonstration - identify new samples using dichotomous key.
Guided
Practice: Outside lab. Students identify trees on school grounds in small groups using key.
MEL
- Eastern Tree Guide and Binoculars
Individual
Practice: Leaf collection (25 leaves)
Closure/
Formative
Assessment: Students turn in 10 leaves identified during guided practice.
LESSON THREE
Objective: The learner shall explore products that originate from the Indiana forest.
Materials: Text chapter 16, pages 141-154
Handout chapter guide pages 54-56
Video-Paul Bunyan
Outside
Resources: MEL - XIV - Soil Quality & Forest Management II F
Cue Set: Eat a sandwich with cellulose from wood in the bread.
Display of products made from wood. (chemical compounds)
Whole Group: Lecture (short)
Guided
Practice: Computer lab-collect information on forest products for oral report.
Outside
lab - MEL - Biltmore sticks, Borers, Clinometers, and measuring
tapes.
Students will measure trees using MEL equipment.
Individual
Practice: Bring something from home that is a forest product.
Closure: Every student names a different product.
Formative
Assessment: Time on task and information found.
LESSON FOUR
Objective: The learner shall investigate careers in forestry and jobs dependent on forest lands and
products.
Materials: Text chapter 20, pages 189-194
Chapter 20 student guide, page 69
Video
Overhead
Outside
Resources: MEL
- XIV - Soil Quality & Forest
Management II F
MEL
- XV - Land Management G
Cue Set: Dress as a tree cutter - carry an axe or chain saw to class.
Whole Group: Short Lecture
Guest Speakers - Conservation Officer
- Nursery
- Lumber Yard Manager
- Firewood
- Tree Farmer
- Park Ranger
Guided
Practice: Pick a forestry related career and make a written report including
- training
- pay
- responsibilities
- demand
Outside
lab - MEL XIV & XV -
Berger Transit, Flags, Measuring Wheel, and Measuring
Tape.
Students will measure the slope of a given area and determine possible
best land uses of the area as related to forestry.
Individual
Practice: Library and computer lab
Closure/
Formative
Assessment: Collect material to determine student progress
LESSON FIVE
Objective: The learner shall design recreational uses of forest and forest lands.
Materials: Poster board - marker
Outside
Resources: MEL - X - Technology I
Cue Set: Ask student to identify a picture of a bird or animal track. Ask students if they own
A.T.V.'s and where they ride them. Show students a set of antler sheds.
Whole Group: Video - hunting
- hiking
- camping
Lecture and class discussion
Guided
Practice: Groups of 3 or 4.
Develop poster illustrating how recreational uses impact Forest lands.
Outside
lab - MEL X - Hiking using GPS units
A. Using GPS units the students will find a designated waypoint and then
download information on (MEL) Toshiba laptops
B. The students will choose and program their own waypoint coordinates and
then trade GPS units with other students
and repeat part A.
Individual
Practice: Search for information about recreational areas you may want to visit. Examples:
- state parks
- ski resorts
- campgrounds
- horse back riding trails
- lakes
Closure: Review of outdoor activities
Formative
Assessment: Progress on poster
CORRECTIVES
Lesson 1 - Students may describe a leaf and see if another student can name the tree using the
terminology from dichotomous key.
Lesson 2 - Students may study prepared leaf mounts and memorize names.
Lesson 3 - Take students through school shop area to see examples of forest products.
Lesson 4 - Think about vacations or places you have been and jobs you have observed people doing
that involved trees.
Lesson 5 - Show pictures of areas where forest areas are over-used and damaged. Reasons are high
demand and/or lack of respect.
ENRICHMENTS
Lesson 1 & 2 Computer programs - "Virtual Forest"
- "Living Landscape"
Lesson 3 Field Trips
1. Sawmill
2. Maple syrup camp
Lesson 4 Pallet Factory Tour
Modular Home Factory Tour
Lesson 5 Visit local wildlife park
1. Bird feeding station
2. Walking trails
3. Camp - cook-out area
4. Fishing
5. Plant and tree identification
Closure Video "The Man That Planted Trees" (Merry Lea video)
* Students may be asked to interview people with knowledge or jobs related to forestry and forest products.
SUMMATIVE STRATEGIES
(ASSESSMENTS)
Test one (150 points) - Identify 30 trees using dichotomous key.
Test two (150 points) - Identify 30 tree leaves from sight.
Test three (written) - Questions taken from lectures, text, worksheets, notes and readings.
1. Name three forest related industries in our community.
2. Describe how forest products (at least 5) are a part of your every day life.
3. Choose a forest related career and explain the responsibilities of this job.
4. Select a forest related recreational activity and describe ways it could be harmful to the forest.
5. Describe your thoughts on the value of being able to identify trees.
6. Describe at least two ways that MEL equipment helped you to understand and appreciate the
value of a forest.
RUBRICS
Summative Assessments: 1. Leaf identification test - 5 points each
2. Written test - 5 questions - 20 points each
Assignments: 1. Poster (see attached sheet)
2. Leaf collection - 4 points x 25 = 100 points
3. Oral report - Forest Product Report
Content - Name product - 5 points
- How produced - 5 points
- Use - 5 points
- Outlook for future - 5 points
20 points
4. Written report on forest related career
Include - Training - 10 points
- Pay - 10 points
- Responsibilities - 10 points
- Demand - 10 points
- Neatness - 10 points
50 points
Essay Questions: 1. 7 points / industry
2. 2 points / product
2 points / relate to personal usage
3. 10 points / career
10 points / job responsibilities
4. 10 points / recreational activity
10 points / ways harmful to forest ( 2 points / way )
5. 10 points / completeness of thoughts
10 points / supportive evidence
6. 10 points / technical correctness of MEL terminology
10 points / ways MEL equipment helped ( 5 points / way )
Samples of additional Rubric examples that are better and could be used attached