Learning Stations
During the one hour classroom visit, your coordinator will have your students rotate through each one of the four activities to prepare them for the forestry tour. Please provide four working stations (desktops, tables) and divide the class into four teams.
Tree Identification
Description
Students make leaf and branch color crayon rubbings of six native trees they will encounter on their tour. They label the rubbings with the tree’s name and note any distinguishing characteristics.
Wildlife Tracks
Description
Students are given replicas of a variety of wildlife tracks of animals (species) that live in the Pacific Northwest. Students press the tracks in clay to see what the tracks might look like on the ground.
Products from Trees
Description
Students are given a box of 10 items and a yes/no checklist. They decide as a team if they think each of the items is made using a forest product. When the classroom session is completed, teams are told which group determined the most forest products.
Tree Growth
Description
Students are given a box of puzzle pieces. When assembled correctly the pieces make up separate trees. Each of the trees is made up of three pieces that are labeled with one of the following words: sunlight, water, and nutrients. Students also learn why Port Blakely removes certain trees (thin) from a forest by using the miniature forest board game. Trees compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients. They fill out a worksheet for both activities.