Curriculum Resources
There are so many ways to learn about forests and integrate hands-on learning into your classroom! Check out the curriculum resources below to add interactive and innovative ideas to your school programs and projects. |
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Canadian Resources
Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network (BEAN)
BEAN provides resources to support educators in educating and engaging others about the role of biodiversity in our lives. They offer programs by grade level, in class and in nature activities, and identify key concepts that are fundamental to understanding biodiversity. This year, the International Year of Biodiversity, BEAN is promoting a day of local action based on the theme of sustainable development.
The Canadian Forestry Association
The Canadian Forestry Association provides teacher kits that include lessons and hands-on activities that reflect science and geography based learning in Canada's provincial and territorial curriculum guidelines. Presented in eight volumes with distinct holistic focuses on the value of forests, the teaching kit series is available both in English and French languages.
EcoKids
The EcoKids' forest section is a great resource that students can use on their own to learn more about the nature and importance of forests. These are tied into the Ontario curriculum, and the connections can be viewed in a document designed specifically for Ontario teachers. The EcoKids website also hosts a “teacher’s lounge”, where teachers can download lesson plans, handouts, and activity sheets tailored to the Ontario Elementary Science and Technology curriculum.
Evergreen
Evergreen provides curriculum resources that integrate school and playground life with gardening, ethnobotany and watersheds. Their “Teacher’s Corner” has great tips and lesson plans for taking your classroom outside.
Focus on Forests
Offered through the Ontario Forestry Association and Tree Canada, and in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Focus on Forests provides a number of free lesson plans for teachers who register on the website. The interactive activities and support materials are available to teachers of all grade levels, and are designed to encourage students to learn and appreciate the importance of trees and forests.
Focus on Fire
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources offers Focus on Fire as a supplement to the Focus on Forests program. While the entire teacher's guide containing material on forest fire management is available for purchase online, the Ontario MNR provides five free sample lesson plans for varying age groups.
GreenLearning Canada
GreenLearning is an innovative education program of the Pembina Foundation. It is a learning resource for innovative teachers, which includes professional development workshops and lessons that integrate real-world applications and issues. GreenLearning programs also help students participate in their own learning while gaining a more holistic and hopeful understanding of complex energy and environmental challenges.
Inside Education
Inside Education provides teaching resources that take a "bias-balanced" approach, which promotes balancing a healthy environment with a productive economy. They provide teaching kits for grades 1 to 12 on a number of environmental topics, such as energy and climate, forests and invasive species, and water issues. Forest-related kits include Between the Stands, Mountain Pine Beetle Mania (both English and French) and Voices of the Boreal. All are available either for download or shipping, free of charge.
Learning for a Sustainable Future
Resources 4 Rethinking is a project developed by Learning for a Sustainable Future. It provides teachers access to lesson plans, worksheets and other classroom resources that integrate environmental, social and economic spheres through learning that is interdisciplinary and action oriented. Each R4R resource has been reviewed by an experienced classroom teacher and is curriculum-matched. Search over 700 resources by grade, subject, and sustainability theme!
Schools for a Living Planet
WWF Canada has gathered a number of educational units under the title of Schools for a Living Planet, with the goal of educating elementary school children in conservation matters on which they can take action. Each unit (one per grade level, 3 to 8) introduces a new environmental topic, and guides students towards developing solutions to the challenges we face. The grade 3 unit focuses on Forests Alive, and the grade 6 unit details the Diversity of Life.
The Toronto District School Board and ECO Schools have partnered to bring teachers Ecological Literacy Resources. Check out the workshops and newsletters available on their website, and use the activities to integrate ecological learning into diverse subject matter.
Tree Canada
Tree Canada provides education, technical assistance, resources and financial support through working partnerships to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in rural and urban areas. They provide great resources to teach youth about the benefits of trees, and the materials and programs for teachers and schools to integrate interactive learning and sustainable landscapes into school environments.
Ontario Forestry Association
The Ontario Forestry Association has a large range of forest education programs that focus on interactive learning, stewardship and increasing awareness. Their Smokey the Bear awareness campaign is a well known and recognized part of their education program. Envirothon is a hands-on program that provides resource materials and competition incentives to create opportunities for students to apply what they have learned in books, directly to nature.
International Resources
American Forests
American Forests’ resources provide students with fun and interactive learning experiences, while providing teachers an innovative and organized program. For example, the A Tree for Every Child project contains a number of activities to help students reflect on the roles of trees and forest communities within the larger context of environmental change, and encourages them to take action by planting trees.
Forest Education Initiative
The Forest Education Initiative hosts a large number of educational resources integrating forests into subjects such as English literacy, maths, science, geography and art. Learning resources can be located based on age group of students and/or curriculum subjects that teachers wish to incorporate with forest topics.
Nature Rocks
Nature Rocks offers all sorts of nature activities, plus tools to help guide and plan your outdoor adventures. Search functions allow you to plan outings based on destination, activity, services, and age of participants. You’ll also find useful tips and information to help you get into nature to promote happier, healthier and smarter children.
Richard Louv
Richard Louv identified a phenomenon we all knew existed but couldn't quite articulate: nature-deficit disorder. His website has helpful resources for parents, teachers, and community leaders to help them encourage children's enjoyment of the great outdoors. These resources include Nature Activities for Kids and Families, Good Books for Kids and Families, and other Helpful Links.
Urban Forestry South
This website has information for all ages, and includes links to classroom activities, urban reforesting programs and other technical resources. The guide, Give Forests a Hand, is a community service learning program that engages groups of youth (grades 3 to 8) in explorations and action projects based on trees and forests. This Leader Guide provides adult leaders and teachers with background and facilitation advice as they help youth identify, plan and conduct an action project. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
John Muir: An American Master and Force for Nature
Connect your students to the deeply ingrained love for nature inherent in all of us. Using the memorable words of Scottish-born American Naturalist, John Muir, American teachers have been getting their students out of the classroom and into nature. As one of the United States' first environmental advocates, John Muir's adventurous life and wise words help us to realize how important it is for the mind, body and spirit to enjoy our wild spaces. Introduce students to John Muir through the PBS Documentary, " John Muir in the New World: American Masters", and compliment the film with the accompanying educator guide produced by the Children & Nature Network. Click here to download.
*The Jane Goodall Institute is not responsible for the content of external websites.
