Bringing ringing the Northern he Northern

Forest to Your orest to Your

Classroom lassroom

Teacher-Developed Lesson Plans eacher-Developed Lesson Plans 

For Active Learning or Active Learning

Northern General Technical

Research Station Report NRS-21

United States

Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Visit our homepage at: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/

Published by: For additional copies:

USDA FOREST SERVICE USDA Forest Service 

11 CAMPUS BLVD SUITE 200 Publications Distribution

NEWTOWN SQUARE PA 19073-3294 359 Main Road

Delaware, OH 43015-8640

January 2008 Fax: (740)368-0152

Abstract

In recent years the Forest Service has reemphasized the need for increased environmental 

literacy among the Nation’s citizens and has recognized the benefits of addressing that need 

among school-age children. This publication is a product of an Adirondack Curriculum Project 

workshop sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, and Paul 

Smith’s College. The workshop was held at Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake, NY, in 

June 2005. Great Camp Sagamore is operated by the Sagamore Institute, which is dedicated 

to the stewardship of the camp and to its use for educational and interpretive purposes. For 

2 days, 22 teachers met with resource professionals with expertise in either the Northern 

Forest or in teaching methods and techniques, or both, and developed the lesson plans in 

this publication.

Cover Photos

Reprinted by permission from Sandra Hildreth (large photo) and Maureen Peroza (inset).

The Authors

MARK J. TWERY is a supervisory research forester and program manager with the U.S. 

Forest Service’s Northern Research Station at Burlington, VT.

SANDRA J. HILDRETH is an artist and a retired educator living in Saranac Lake, NY. She is 

a member of the board of directors of the Adirondack Curriculum Project.

CELIA A. EVANS is a professor of ecology at Paul Smith’s College, Smiths NY, and a 

member of the board of directors of the Adirondack Curriculum Project.

Manuscript received for publication 23 February 2007
Bringing the Northern

Forest to Your

Classroom

Teacher-Developed Lesson Plans

for Active Learning

Mark J. Twery

U.S. Forest Service

Sandra J. Hildreth

Adirondack Curriculum Project

Celia A. Evans

Paul Smith‛s College

Original art by Sandra Hildreth, used with permission.
Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom

Table of Contents

Foreword and Acknowledgments ................................................................................................ 1

The Adirondack Curriculum Project .............................................................................................3

Challenges

Topic Grade Level Standards Page

Tree Branch Mobiles 1 - 3 Science, Life Skills, ..................... 4

 Language Arts

Nighttime in the Northern Forest 1 - 4 Science, Life Skills, ..................... 7

 Language Arts, Arts

Spiders in Our Backyard 2 - 4 Science, Language Arts, ........... 10

 Life Skills

The Water We Drink & Use 3 - 6 Science, Language Arts ............ 13

 Arts, Life Skills

Habitats in our Northern Forests 3 - 6 Science, Life Skills .................... 16

Growing Up 100 Years Ago 3 - 6 Language Arts, History, ............. 19

 Life Skills

Meet the Beaver 4 - 6 Science, Language Arts, ........... 21

 History, Arts, Life Skills

Northern Forest Storytelling 4 - 6 Language Arts, Arts ................... 24

The Bugs Will Tell You 4 - 7 Science, Life Skills .................... 28

A Tour Guide for Northern 4 - 6 Science, Language Arts, ........... 32

Forest Environments Life Skills

Where Does the Rain Go? 6 - 8 Science, Life Skills, ................... 35

 Language Arts

Changing Maples 9 - 12 Science ..................................... 38

Non-English Speaking Tourists 8 - 12 Foreign Language, .................... 41

& the Northern Forest Technology

Chronic Wasting Disease 9 - 12 Language Arts, Life Skills .......... 43

Art & Literature of the 9 - 12 Language Arts, Arts ................... 46

Northern Forest

Acid Rain & the Northern 7 - 12 Science, Civics, Language ........ 50

Forest: A Chemical Perspective Arts, Arts

Silviculture Challenge 10 - 12 Science, Mathematics ............... 54

How to Create Your Own Challenge .......................................................................................... 57
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 1

Foreword

In recent years the Forest Service has reemphasized the need for increased environmental 

literacy among the Nation’s citizens and has recognized the benefi ts of addressing that need 

among school-age children.

This publication is a product of an Adirondack Curriculum Project workshop sponsored by the 

U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station*, and Paul Smith’s College. The workshop 

was held at Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake, NY, in June 2005. Great Camp Sagamore 

is operated by the Sagamore Institute, which is dedicated to the stewardship of the camp and 

to its use for educational and interpretive purposes. For 2 days, 22 teachers met with resource 

professionals with expertise in either the Northern Forest or in teaching methods and techniques, 

or both, and developed the lesson plans in this publication. Based on the structure of Adirondack 

Challenges, a format developed by the Adirondack Curriculum Project, these lesson plans are 

founded in “place-based learning.” To develop the plans, pairs of teachers explored opportunities 

for linking some aspect of the Northern Forest to a particular educational goal. The Challenges 

could be in any fi eld from art to storytelling to ecology or hydrology, but all needed to have explicit 

links to the Northern Forest. Experts on hand during the workshop provided advice, resource 

materials, and fi eld experiences to the teachers to stimulate ideas for enhancing classroom 

experiences in the incubating lesson plans. After the workshop, the teachers returned to their 

schools and tested the Challenges in their classrooms during the following academic year. Based 

on those experiences, the Challenges have been revised and refi ned for presentation here. The 

Challenges have also been adapted to a broader potential constituency, using national learning 

standards and generalizing from specifi c place names. (*The Northeastern Research Station has 

since merged with the North Central Station to become the Northern Research Station.)

Mark Twery

U.S. Forest Service

Acknowledgments

We want to express sincere thanks to the teacher-participants at the Northern Forest Workshop, 

who developed the original Challenges on which this publication is based. We are also indebted 

to the experts who shared their time and resources with the teachers in the workshop, including 

Michale Glennon, Jerry Jenkins, and Michael Wilson. Members of the Adirondack Curriculum 

Project Coordinating Committee also helped facilitate the workshop. Bruce Bonney and Jack 

Drury reviewed the Challenges to ensure they meet educational standards.

Layout - Sandra Hildreth

Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom
Page intentionally left blank

2
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 3

The Adirondack Curriculum Project, or ACP, was created in 2001 by a group of concerned educators in 

northern New York who felt children living in the Adirondack Park and surrounding areas should have 

more exciting opportunities to learn about the region’s natural and cultural resources. We hope that 

by focusing on educating young people we will foster better public understanding, appreciation, and 

stewardship of the area. To accomplish this, we develop and facilitate workshops that give teachers 

the time and expert resources to create student-centered lessons or “Challenges” to take back and 

use in their classrooms. We also post all completed (and usually fi eld-tested) Challenges on the Web 

site, along with other useful links and resources. The 

Adirondack Challenge format is an adaptation of the 

student-centered, acitivities-based Challenge created by 

Education by DesignTM and Leading Edge.

The criteria built into developing Challenges help 

teachers meet educational standards and construct 

knowledge in one or more of the following six content 

areas: natural history, human history, culture & the arts, 

government & civics, economy, and health, recreation & 

life skills. Teachers formulate an investigative question 

or issue that the students will be challenged to solve 

through hands-on activities. A rubric-like Product Quality 

Checklist is developed as part of the Challenge so that 

the expected learning outcomes are explicit and can be 

assessed at the end of the project/lesson.

ACP Challenges developed in workshops are meant to help engender a sense of place. In a recent 

workshop funded by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with Paul Smith’s College, we extended 

our notion of “place” to include the Northern Forest region so that teachers from across this shared 

landscape could have access to these pieces of curriculum owned and developed by other teachers. 

Most of the Challenges in this book were designed at a workshop at Great Camp Sagamore in the 

Adirondacks in June 2005 by K-12 teachers and tested by students in the classroom. At the top of each 

Challenge are listed the National Education Standards that it was designed to meet and the content 

areas covered. Some may meet more than one Standard, but the main one is in bold and underlined 

text. Examples of student products are included where available; more can be found on the ACP Web 

site. They all have Product Quality Checklists to facilitate assessment. The teachers who developed 

these Challenges included specifi c “Points Possible” in their checklists, but in this book the points 

columns have been left blank to allow teachers to customize the Challenge for their own students and 

curriculum. While often written for a specifi c course or range of grades, many of these Challenges could 

be adapted and modifi ed to meet the needs of other classroom levels and subject areas.

If you are interested in developing and posting a new Challenge to share with other educators, or in 

seeing more Challenges, please see p. 57 or check the ACP Web site for more information. Workshop 

information is also provided on the Web site.

Sandra Hildreth, Celia Evans, Adirondack Curriculum Project

www.adkcurriculumproject.org

The Adirondack Curriculum Project

www.adkcurriculumproject.org

Logo by Sandra Hildreth.
4 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Science: Life Sciences

Life Skills: Thinking & 

Reasoning; Working with 

Others

Language Arts: Reading; 

Writing; Speaking & 

Listening

•

•

•

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Authors: Margaret O’Leary &

Maureen Peroza, 

L.P. Quinn Elementary School, 

Tupper Lake, NY

Grade Level/Course: 1 - 3 

Investigative Question or Issue: Which tree are you? How can we tell one type 

of tree from another?

Challenge: In teams of four arranged with the help of your teacher, create a mobile made from the 

key parts of one of the four tree types common to the Northern Forest that you chose to study. You 

will be using this mobile to help you introduce your tree to the class in a presentation that you will 

give while standing next to your tree.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: The teacher will want to make available a wide variety of resources (e.g., 

books, fi eld guides, posters) that describe/illustrate the characteristics of different tree types common 

to the Northern Forests (see Resources noted below). The teacher may also want to “coach” students 

in developing their observational and differentiating skills when looking at objects that are related but 

not the same. These skills will need to be honed as students compare common elements of all trees: 

the whole tree, leaves, twigs, bark, and seeds.

Directions for Students: As you prepare to create the mobile for your teaching presentation, 

please consider the following:

Using your mobile and presentation, you should share accurate information about your tree that 

you have identifi ed and researched using a fi eld guide and other materials provided by your 

teacher. You will be able to collect some of this information fi rsthand when you go into the fi eld 

to identify, photograph, and collect samples from your special tree.

During your fi eld research you should collect samples of your tree’s branches, twigs, leaves, 

and seeds. These are the parts you will use to assemble your mobile. You may have to take a 

rubbing of your tree’s bark rather than injure your tree by stripping living bark from it. You will 

want to include a card naming your tree and perhaps a photograph of the whole tree as part of 

your mobile.

When you present your mobile and tree, be sure that your facts are accurate and that you 

model the criteria for Quality Speaking agreed to in class and mentioned below.

You and each member of your team should be prepared to teach your classmates (or parents) 

about two or more of the elements of your mobile. 

Finally, you and each team member should be prepared to identify all four types of trees you’ve 

studied either in photographs or while walking along a trail in the woods.

•

•

•

•

•

•

Tree Branch Mobiles
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 5

Quality Standards: 

Mobile is created from actual tree parts, rubbings, or photographs unique to the tree type under 

study.

Mobile includes a card naming the tree represented.

The speakers during the tree presentation each discuss two or more parts of the mobile 

correctly.

The speakers during the tree presentation model the criteria for Quality Speaking.

All the information/facts shared in the presentation are accurate.

Each team member can identify all four tree types common to the Northern Forest either in 

photographs or in the fi eld.

•

•

•

•

•

•

Suggested Book Resources

“The Secret Life of Trees” by Chiara Chevallier

“The Tree Identifi cation Book” by George W.D. Symonds

“Trees, Leaves and Bark” by Diane L. Burns

“Tree” Eyewitness Books

“A Tree is Growing” by Arthur Dorros

“Tell Me, Tree” by Gail Gibbons

“How the Forest Grew” by William Jaspersohn

“The Big Tree” by Bruce Hiscock

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Tree Branch Mobiles

Photo courtesy of Maureen Peroza, Tupper Lake, NY
6 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): _________________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: ______________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Mobile is created from actual tree parts, rubbings, or 

photographs unique to the tree type under study.

Mobile includes a card naming the tree represented.

Speakers during the tree presentation each discuss two or 

more parts of the mobile correctly.

Speakers during the tree presentation model the criteria 

for Quality Speaking:

• Speak clearly

• Use appropriate pace

Speak fl uently using appropriate intonation, 

expression, and emphasis

•

Use animation in the form of gestures and facial 

expressions

•

• Use appropriate props

All the information/facts shared in the presentation are 

accurate.

Each team member can identify all four tree types common 

to Northern Forests either in photographs or in the fi eld.

Total

Comments: 

Tree Branch Mobiles

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 7

Science: Life Sciences; 

Nature of Science

Life Skills: Working with 

Others

Language Arts: Listening 

& Speaking

Arts: Understands & 

Applies Media

•

•

•

•

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Maureen Peroza

L.P Quinn Elementary School

Tupper Lake, NY

Grade Level/Course: 1 - 4 

Investigative Question or Issue: What is out there after dark? Which animals 

are up and about in the Northern Forest while we humans sleep?

Challenge: In small groups of two or three formed with the help of your teacher, create one of the 

following products: poster, painting, diorama, mobile, photo album, or any other product you can 

think of that your teacher will approve. Your product will be used to support a presentation to the 

class in which you tell us important information about a nocturnal animal of the Northern Forests that 

you have decided to study.

National Standards

Context for this Challenge: The teacher will want to ensure the availability of resource materials 

appropriate to the number of topics selected; guide the class in producing a brainstorm list of 

nocturnal animals common to the Northern Forest and aid in the selection of fi ve or six animals from 

the list for indepth study; “coach” students in playing specifi c roles within the group (e.g., fact fi nder, 

writer, illustrator); and introduce them to a formal process of researching and recording data about 

their animal that they can then use to meet the Challenge described below. Finally, the teacher may 

want to help students describe appropriate Quality Criteria for each of the products they choose to 

create.

Directions for Students:

As you research information about your animal, be sure to fi nd out the following facts:

The name of the animal

Distinguishing features of the animal by which it could be recognized from a distance

A general description of the animal (body colors, covering, size)

The habitat of the animal

The food of the animal

The nighttime activities of the animal

The daytime activities of the animal

Once you complete your product, you will be asked to give the class a short presentation in which you 

use your product to help teach the class about the facts you discovered about your animal. Make sure 

all the information you share about your animal is accurate.

Every member of your team should participate in the presentation in some way.

All team members should be prepared to respond to questions about your animal if asked to do so.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Curriculum Content Area

Nighttime in the Northern Forest
8 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Quality Standards:

Product is completed on time.

Product conforms to Quality Criteria described in class.

All the required information/facts are shared as part of the presentation.

All team members participate in the presentation in some way.

All information in the product and the presentation is accurate.

•

•

•

•

•

TEACHING TIP

I have done many lessons on this topic throughout the years. Using researched facts, my 

students and I have written several fi ctional animal stories to be used as plays or puppet shows. 

We have made sawdust puppets and clay puppets. We have also used stuffed animals as 

puppets. The words to the nocturnal animal booklet are written below. Students can illustrate the 

entire book or classes can create one book by each student doing one or several pages. Enjoy!

Animals of the Adirondack Night

By Maureen Peroza November 1998

One great horned owl

 Swooping through the night.

Two tiny fi eld mice

 Shivering with fright.

Three white tail deer

 Drinking from a brook.

Four baby bunnies

 Hiding in a nook.

Five fl ying squirrels

 Floating to the ground.

Six furry brown bats

 Darting all around.

Seven blinking fi refl ies

 Flashing in the dark.

Eight gray coyotes

 Singing with a bark.

Nine hungry black bears

 Lumbering on the lawn.

Ten bandit raccoons

 Hunting until dawn.

Many sleeping children

 Snoozing the night away.

While these critters stay awake

 To hunt and eat and play.

Nighttime in the Northern Forest

Photos courtesy of Maureen Peroza, Tupper Lake, NY
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 9

Product Author(s): _________________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: ______________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Product is completed on time.

Product conforms to Quality Criteria described in class.

All information in the product and the presentation is 

accurate.

All the required information/facts are shared as part of the 

presentation.

All team members participate in the presentation in some 

way.

All team members are able to respond appropriately to 

questions about their animal when asked to do so.

Total

Comments: 

Nighttime in the Northern Forest

Product Quality Checklist
10 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Spiders in Our Backyard

Science: Life Sciences; 

Nature of Science

Language Arts: Writing

Life Skills: Working with 

Others

•

•

•

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Margaret O’Leary

L.P. Quinn Elementary School, 

Tupper Lake Central School

Tupper Lake, NY

Grade Level/Course: 2 - 4

Investigative Question or Issue: What kinds of spiders are found in the woods 

near our school?

Challenge: Travel out into the woods and observe the habits of at least three different spiders in 

their natural surroundings. Enter your observations on the sheets your teacher gives you to put 

in your individual fi eld journals (picture story notebooks).

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: Teachers offering this challenge will want to check the immediate 

environment of their school to make sure an appropriate variety of spiders is available to support 

this project. Teachers will also want to prepare the support materials identifi ed in the challenge 

(observations sheets for pasting in story notebooks).

Directions for Students:

The Challenge: With a partner and the help of your teacher, travel out into the woods and observe 

the habits of at least three different spiders in their natural surroundings. Enter your observations on 

the sheets your teacher gives you to put in your individual fi eld journals (picture story notebooks).

As you make your observations, please be sure to record the 

following information:

What is the date and time of day of your observation?

What is the weather like?

Where is the location of your observations?

What kinds of different spiders did you see? (Draw a picture of 

 them.)

What did the different spiders do while you were watching 

 them? (Draw a picture of them.)

What did the webs of the spiders you were watching look like? 

 (Draw a picture of them.)

Using a collection jar with magnifying lens, collect one spider for 

close observation. Look closely at this spider and record/sketch your observations in your fi eld journal. 

Be sure to answer the following:

What color is it?

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•

Photo courtesy of Sarah Bencze, Tupper Lake, NY
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 11

Quality Standards:

Field Journal includes the following:

Observations about spiders seen on the woods walk (date and time, weather, location, 

appearance of spiders, activity of spiders, appearance of spider web)

Observations about one specifi c spider that has been collected (color of spider, number of legs, 

location of collection point, spider size, special identifying characteristics of spider)

Illustrations about the spiders seen on the nature trail

Illustrations about the collected spider

Narrative is:

Written from the spider’s point of view

Three or four sentences long

Creative, perhaps naming the spider

Presentation:

Describes observations made about the collected spider

Is supported with illustrations showing the collected spider

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

How many legs does it have?

Where did you fi nd/collect it?

How big is it? (Measure your spider either by using the measuring grid on the bottom of the jar 

or compare it to something of similar size.)

What special identifying features does your spider have? (For instance, stripes, more than one 

color, large eyes)

Based on your observations, write a narrative (about three or four sentences long) from the spider’s 

point of view about what what it looks like, where it lives, and what its life is like. Be creative in this 

narrative. Maybe give your spider a name. Be sure to give lots of details about your spider when you 

write.

Please be prepared to present your narrative to the class and share your drawings with us.

•

•

•

•

Spiders in Our Backyard
12 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Field journal includes observations about spiders seen 

on the woods walk. Information includes date and time, 

weather, location, appearance of spiders, activity of 

spiders, appearance of spider web.

Field journal includes observations about one specifi c 

spider that has been collected. This information includes 

color of spider, number of legs, location of collection 

point, spider size, special identifying characteristics of 

spider.

Field journal includes illustrations about the spiders seen 

on the woods walk.

Field journal includes illustrations about the collected 

spider.

Narrative is written from the spider’s point of view.

Narrative is 3 or 4 sentences long.

Narrative is creative, perhaps naming the spider.

Presentation describes observations made about the 

collected spider.

Presentation is supported with illustrations showing the 

collected spider.

Total

Comments: 

Spiders in Our Backyard

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 13

Science: Earth & Space 

Sciences; Life Sciences

Life Skills: Thinking & 

Reasoning; Life Work; 

Working with Others

Language Arts: Reading; 

Writing

Arts: Understands & 

Applies Media, Techniques 

& Processes

•

•

•

•

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Authors: Hollie Combs & 

Jennifer Hubert, Queensbury 

Union Free School District, 

Queensbury, NY

Grade Level/Course: 3 - 6

Investigative Question or Issue: Where does our water come from and how can 

we keep water clean?

Challenge: In groups of four, create one (your choice) of the following products to help others learn 

where our water comes from and how we can help to keep it clean.

1. Write a letter to the editor of your local or school newspaper.

2. Design a t-shirt logo, with an attached information card, to tell consumers about where our 

water comes from and to persuade them to keep our water clean.

3. Write and perform a one-act skit about where our water comes from, how we use water, and 

how we can keep it clean.

4. Create an informational display or PowerPoint presentation.

Quality Standards:

Product shows where our water comes from and how it might be kept clean.

Product communicates information that is accurate.

Product is completed on time.

Product is neat in appearance.

Product meets all the Quality Criteria as described and posted in class.

All group members are prepared to explain their product to the rest of the class when asked to 

do so.

•

•

•

•

•

•

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: This Challenge is a culminating activity for a unit of study investigating 

three questions: 1) Where does our water come from? 2) What factors pollute our water? 3) How 

can we keep our water clean? The teacher will want to lead students in an investigation of the 

water cycle and encourage students to discuss and share their thoughts about the questions cited 

previously.

Directions: Distribute handout and Product Quality Checklist, discuss Challenge and Quality 

Standards, provide resources, and allow students to form groups.

The Water We Drink & Use
14 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

The Challenge: In groups of four, create one (your choice) of the following products to help others 

learn where our water comes from and how we can help to keep it clean.

1. Write a letter to the editor of your local or school newspaper.

Must use proper letter format.

Must tell where our water comes from

Must persuade readers to keep our water clean.

2. Design a t-shirt logo, with an attached information card, to tell consumers where our water comes 

from and to persuade them to keep our water clean.

Logo must fi t on 8 1/2- x 11-inch paper.

Logo must be an original colorful design.

Logo must be mounted on posterboard template of t-shirt.

An information card of 75 to 100 words must be included.

3. Write and perform a one-act skit about where our water comes from, how we use water, and how we 

can keep it clean.

Each student must have a role in writing and performing the skit.

4. Create an informational display or PowerPoint presentation.

Display must be a colorful original design.

Display must have 10 written informative facts about where our water comes from and how we 

can keep it clean.

Whatever your choice, the product must be neat in appearance, communicate information that is 

accurate, and be completed within the time allotted. All products must also meet the Quality Criteria for 

that particular product as described in class.

All group members should be prepared to briefl y present and explain their product to the class if asked 

to do so.

•

•

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•

•

•

•

The Water We Drink & Use
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 15

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

All Products:

Product shows where our water comes from and how it might be 

kept clean

Product communicates information that is accurate

Product is completed on time

Product is neat in appearance

All group members are prepared to explain their product to the 

rest of the class when asked to do so

Letter to the Editor:

• Is in proper letter format

• Persuades readers to keep water clean

• Is presented to the class

T-Shirt Logo:

• Fits on 8 1/2- by 11-inch paper

• Must be an original and colorful design

• Is mounted on posterboard template of t-shirt

One Act Skit:

Each student must demonstrate his or her role in writing 

the skit

•

Each student must demonstrate his or her role in 

performing the skit

•

• Speaking - voice is clear and able to be heard

Informational Display or PowerPoint:

• Display or presentation is original and colorful

Contains 10 written informative facts about where our 

water comes from and how to keep it clean

•

Total

Comments: 

The Water We Drink & Use

Product Quality Checklist
16 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Science: Earth & Space 

Sciences; Life Sciences

Life Skills: Working with 

Others

•

•

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Sarah Bencze

L.P. Quinn Elementary School

Tupper Lake Central School

Tupper Lake, NY

Grade Level/Course: 3 - 6

Investigative Question or Issue: How do different habitats of the Northern 

Forest provide the components necessary for plants and animals to live and 

thrive?

Challenge: Using the materials available, plan and create a model of one of these habitats: wetland, 

mountain, forest, or river, and give a brief presentation.

Quality Standards:

Model Habitat

Model clearly shows the four features of the chosen habitat: food, shelter, water, and space.

Plants and animals that live in the habitat are observable and clearly labeled using correct 

spelling and identifi cation.

Models or images of the plants and animals that live in the habitat are created using materials 

from the planning page.

Presentation

You identify your habitat.

You describe the features necessary for plant and animal survival.

You describe the types of animals and plants that live in the habitat.

You explain how you created your habitat.

All members of the group should be able to respond appropriately when asked questions about 

their model habitat.

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Habitats in our Northern Forests

Photo courtesy of Margaret O’Leary, Tupper Lake, NY
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 17

Student Handout

The Challenge: Divide into four equal groups. Each group will choose one of the following Northern 

Forest habitats: wetland, mountain, forest, or river. No two groups may choose the same habitat. 

Using materials that are made available to you, plan and create a model of the habitat you have 

chosen.

Use your planning page to help you select materials that are appropriate.

As you build your model habitat, please consider the following:

Your habitat needs to clearly show the four features of habitat: food, shelter, water, space.

The plants and animals that live in this habitat should be created with materials from your 

planning page.

All plants and animals should be labeled.

Your habitat should have a sign identifying your habitat and listing the names of all group 

members.

You will have one class period to complete your planning page and fi ve class periods (one hour long) 

to complete your habitats.

When you comple your model, please prepare a short presentation in which you share accurate 

information about your model with a visiting class. Your presentation should

Identify your habitat

Describe the features necessary for plant and animal 

survival in your habitat

Describe the types of animals and plants that live in 

the habitat

Explain how you created your habitat

All members of your group should be ready to answer 

questions about your model and the habitat it represents.

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Habitats in our Northern Forests

Red trillium (Trillium erectum)

Photo by Mark Twery, U.S. Forest Service

Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) 

Photo by Mark Twery, U.S. Forest Service 
18 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ___________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: _________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Model Habitat

Model clearly shows the four features of the chosen 

habitat: food, shelter, water and space.

•

Plants and animals that live in the habitat are 

observable and clearly labeled using correct spelling.

•

The plants and animals that live in the habitat are 

created using materials from the planning page.

•

• All plants and animals are labeled correctly.

The habitat has a sign identifying the name of the 

habitat and the names of all group members.

•

• The model habitat is completed on time.

Presentation

• You identify the name of your habitat correctly.

You describe the features of the habitat that are 

necessary for plants and animals to survive.

•

You describe the types of plants and animals that live in 

the habitat.

•

• You explain how you created the habitat.

All members of the group respond appropriately to 

questions about the model and the habitat it represents.

•

Total

Comments: 

Habitats in our Northern Forests

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 19

Language Arts: 

Reading; Writing; 

Speaking & Listening

History: The History of the 

Student’s Own Region

Life Skills:0 Working with 

Others

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Hollie Combs

Queensbury School,

Queensbury, NY

Grade Level/Course: 3 - 6 

Investigative Question or Issue: What was the life of a child living in a rural 

community in the Northern Forests like 100 years ago?

Challenge: Plan and create an informative and colorful storybook about the life of a 9- year-old child 

living in the Northern Forests 100 years ago. You should use the writing process (draft, revise, fi nal 

copy) to create your book. Your book must include a cover, title page, and dedication page. The text 

and illustrations should be neat and easy to read.

Quality Standards: 

Finished on time

Writing process is used to create the book

Book’s main character is a 9-year-old child living in the Northern

 Forests over 100 years ago

Includes all book parts (cover, title page, dedication page)

Informative – gives reader correct information

High quality – neat handwriting and illustrations

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National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: Students should be familiar with the writing process: draft, revise, fi nal 

copy. The author of this Challenge had a local performer visit her classroom as an artist-in-residence. 

The performer, dressed in period costume as the well-known regional writer, Jeanne Robert Foster, 

gave an interactive presentation for the students about growing up in the Adirondacks 100 years ago. 

The artist became a resource, in addition to other primary resources and reference books on local 

history. Children should also be encouraged to interview their grandparents and other older relatives 

or neighbors.

The teacher needs to arrange for resources and determine the 

time schedule and deadline for this project, as well as any specifi c 

requirements for length and size of the storybooks. Groups of no 

more than six students are suggested for peer editing before the 

projects are handed in.

Presenting the storybooks to an audience of parents, classmates, 

etc., is also suggested.

Growing Up 100 Years Ago

Photo courtesy of Hollie Combs, Queensbury, NY
20 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Book

• Finished on time

• Writing process is used to create the book

Book’s main character: 9-year-old child living in the 

Northern Forests over 100 years ago

•

All book parts included (cover, title page, dedication 

page)

•

• Informative – the book gives reader correct information

• High quality – neat handwriting and illustrations

Student

• Actively participated in peer editing

• Presented or displayed book when completed

Total

Comments: 

Growing Up 100 Years Ago

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 21

Science: Life Sciences

Language Arts: Writing; 

Reading

History: K-4 - History of 

own region

Arts: Understands & 

Applies Media

Life Skills: Working with 

Others

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Erin Farley-Davis 

Saranac Lake Central School,

Saranac Lake, NY

Allison Smith, 

Lake Placid Central School

Lake Placid, NY

Grade Level/Course: 4 - 6

Investigative Question or Issue: What might any kid your age want to know 

about beavers?

Challenge: Create an interesting and informative “Illustrated Journal of the Beaver” that contains 

the answers to at least 10 questions that any kids of a similar age would like to know about this 

fascinating animal.

Quality Standards:

Student groups will create a Question & Answer Illustrative Journal.

Form:

Journal is completed on time.

Journal has a title page that identifi es the names of 

the authors, and that page is interesting and attractive

Journal is typed if possible; spelling and grammar are 

correct.

Last page of journal includes a bibliography of 

correctly cited references.

Content:

Journal contains answers to 10 or more questions 

about the beaver that any kid of a similar age would 

like to know.

Information in the journal is accurate and questions are answered thoroughly.

Journal contains multiple visual images to show what the authors are talking about.

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National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: Teachers will no doubt want to ensure that enough research 

materials on beavers are available to permit all the students to research this topic all at one time. 

Teachers will also want to “coach” their students through the processes of brainstorming questions, 

researching information about the questions, and then organizing their fi ndings in some systematic 

way.

Students should be in well balanced groups of four (self-selected or teacher-selected).

Meet the Beaver

Photo courtesy of Erin Farley-Davis, Saranac Lake, NY
22 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

The Challenge: In well-balanced teams of four organized with the help of your teacher, create 

an interesting and informative “Illustrated Journal of the Beaver” that contains the answers to at 

least 10 questions that any kid your age would like to know about this fascinating animal.

As you create your illustrated journal, please consider the following:

The journal should answer the questions you chose to address as accurately and thoroughly as 

possible.

The journal should contain lots of visual images – pictures, drawings – to show the reader what 

you are talking about.

The text of the journal should be typed if possible. Spelling and grammar should be correct.

The journal should have a title page where you list the members of your team of authors. This 

page should be as interesting and visually attractive as possible.

The last page of the journal includes a bibliography of the references used. These references 

should be cited correctly.

As you prepare this journal, please complete a daily journal of your work, in which you record 

what each member of the group did that day to contribute to the success of the project.

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Meet the Beaver
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 23

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Form

• Journal is completed on time.

Journal has a title page that identifi es the names of 

the authors; this page is interesting and attractive.

•

Journal is typed if possible; spelling and grammar are 

correct.

•

Last page of journal includes a bibliography in which 

references are cited correctly.

•

Content

Journal contains answers to 10 or more questions 

about the beaver that any kid of a similar age would 

like to know.

•

Information in the journal is accurate and questions 

are answered thoroughly.

•

Journal contains multiple visual images to show what 

the authors are talking about.

•

Process

Group completes a daily work journal that documents 

what each member did each day.

•

Total

Comments: 

Meet the Beaver

Product Quality Checklist
24 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Language Arts: Writing, 

Reading, Listening & 

Speaking

Arts: Theatre: Uses Acting Skills; 

Directs

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Authors: Aimee Barney & 

Joanne McCormick, Potsdam 

Central School, Potsdam, NY

Grade Level/Course: 4 - 6, 

Language Arts

Investigative Question or Issue: How can we use our knowledge of Northern 

Forest folklore and history to create an entertaining original story?

Challenge: With the help of your teacher, arrange yourselves into teams of no more than three. 

Write and orally present from memory an original story using information you have learned 

about storytelling and our Northern Forest region. Give a written copy of your story to your 

teacher before you present.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: In preparation for this challenge, the teacher needs to model or provide 

examples of the following storytelling techniques:

Taking on the voice of a character

Candle lighting

Stick puppets

Simple costumes (such as hat, bonnets, apron, shawls)

Masks 

Narration by one member while others act out the story

Setting of the scene

The elements of form required for the project will need to be introduced or 

reviewed and may certainly be modifi ed as needed.

Appropriate resources about the Northern Forest region will need to be provided.

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Quality Standards:

Product: Original Northern Forest story

Form:

Story is creative and original, and oral version uses at least three storytelling techniques.

Story has a title.

Story has an introduction that includes background information.

Story is in a narrative form.

Story describes a sequences of events.

Story has a beginning, middle, and end and shows both confl ict and resolution.

Oral storytelling performance is at least 2-3 minutes long but does not exceed 5 minutes.

Story makes sense.

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Northern Forest Storytelling

Photo courtesy of Aimee Barney, 

Pottsdam, NY
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 25

Story involves interesting vocabulary.

Story has sentences that are varied.

Story has correct spelling/punctuation.

Story is written in complete sentences.

Story is handwritten neatly or typed.

Written version of story includes a list of the references you used.

Content: Both the written and oral version of story contain the following:

A description of a Northern Forest village

A description of a Northern Forest animal

A description of a Northern Forest person from the past

A description of a Northern Forest body of water

Language that sets the story in a specifi c time period (e.g., early 1800s, 1930s)

Celebration or description of people and events from the Northern Forest region

The next section may be duplicated as a student handout.

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4th Grade Students at Potsdam Central School

Northern Forest Storytelling

Photo courtesy of Aimee Barney, Pottsdam, NY
26 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

Group Members:

Your Challenge: Your cooperative group will write and memorize your original Northern Forest Tale. 

Your group will present your story to an audience. Your performance should be 2-3 minutes long, 

but no more than 5 minutes. A written version will also need to be handed in (neatly handwritten or 

typed).

Elements of your Northern Forest Tale:

Choose a Northern Forest village or mountain as the setting

Include at least one animal that lives in the Northern Forest

Include a Northern Forest person from the past

Include a Northern Forest body of water

Select a time period for your story

Use at least three storytelling techniques:

Take on the voice of a character

Candle lighting

Stick puppets

Simple costumes (such as hat, bonnets, apron, shawls)

Masks

Narration by one member while others act out the story

Setting of the scene

Your Northern Forest story needs to

Include a title 

Begin with an introduction that includes background information

Be in narrative form, with a beginning, middle, and end

Describe a sequence of events and make sense

Include both confl ict and resolution

Use interesting vocabulary (appropriate for time period), varied and complete sentences

Use correct spelling and punctuation in the written version

Include a list of references used in the written version

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Northern Forest Storytelling
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 27

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Content: Story contains the following:

• A description of a Northern Forest village

• A description of a Northern Forest animal

• A description of a Northern Forest person from the past

• A description of a Northern Forest body of water

Language that sets the story in a specifi c time period 

(e.g., early 1800s, 1930s)

•

A celebration or description of people and events from 

the region

•

Story:

• Is creative and original

• Has a title

• Has an introduction that includes background information

• Is in a narrative form

• Describes a sequences of events

• Has a beginning, middle, and end

• Shows both confl ict and resolution

• Makes sense

• Involves interesting vocabulary

• Has sentences that are varied & complete

• Has correct spelling & punctuation

• Is handwritten neatly or typed

• Written version includes a list of the references used

Performance:

• Creative and original

• Uses three storytelling techniques

• Is 2-3 minutes long – no longer than 5 minutes

Total

Comments: 

Northern Forest Storytelling

Product Quality Checklist
28 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Science: Earth & Space 

Sciences

Life Skills: Thinking & 

Reasoning; Working with 

Others

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Valerie Valla & Marion 

Shorey

Ballston Spa Central School

Ballston Spa, NY

Grade Level/Course: 4 - 7

Investigative Question or Issue: How might resource managers use 

macroinvertebrate populations to assess the health of a stream or river?

Challenge: Conduct a macroinvertebrate survey of the local waterway to which you have 

been assigned. Create a poster suitable for use in a presentation in which you communicate your 

fi ndings to others.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: This Challenge may require much “coaching” from the teacher. It may be 

necessary to assist students in the processes of taking a valid macroinvertebrate population sample, 

collecting and interpreting data, and comparing data to that collected by other researchers so as to 

draw some general conclusions about the investigative question above. Refer to references on the 

next page to fi nd help with procedures.

Directions: Put students into groups of two or three to perform a macroinvertebrate survey of a local 

waterway.

Posters should include the following items:

The name of the waterway investigated

A map of the waterway, locating it accurately in your region

A bar or pie graph of fi ndings that shows the relative presence of each of the following 

categories of invertebrate in your waterway: sensitive, somewhat sensitive, and tolerant

A tally sheet that shows the raw data from the research

A concluding statement (paragraph) that explains the fi ndings and draws a conclusion about 

the health of the waterway based on the data collected

Students should be prepared to use their posters to support a short presentation to the class in which 

they share their fi ndings and conclusions based on those fi ndings. All members of the group should 

be prepared to answer questions about the study and defend the accuracy of the data and fi nal 

conclusions.

All work should satisfy the Quality Standards identifi ed below and in the Product Quality Checklist that 

follows.

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The Bugs Will Tell You: Macroinvertebrates Spill the Beans
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 29

References:

Artstream: Macroinvertebrate Lunch, West Plains Middle School 2002-2003, sponsored by 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources: www.watersheds.org/stream_movie.htm

Meet the Movie Characters of Macroinvertebrate Lunch: www.watersheds.org/teacher/

stream.htm

The World in Your Watershed Resources: www.watersheds.org/teacher

NYSDEC Stream Biomonitoring Program Overview: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/

bwam/sbu.html

Hudson Basin River Watch: www.hudsonbasin.org

NYSDEC Division of Water: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/stream/

USGS National Water Quality Assessment for New York State: ny.water.usgs.gov/projects/

hdsn

Stroud Water Research Center: www.stroudcenter.org/

Critter Search: www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/teacher/critrsrch.htm

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Quality Standards:

Bar/Pie graph & Map (group activity): 

Different color for each bar/wedge

Neat

Accurate

Graph fi lls the page

Axes & bars/wedges clearly labeled

Appropriate increments

Title

Waterway highlighted on map

Presentation (group activity)

Informative

Accurate

Well designed and thought out

Clear

Interesting

Poster (group activity)

Student names, teacher name, and section 

in upper left corner on poster

Incorporates portions of the entire lesson

Attractive

Neat

Proper grammar and spelling

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The Bugs Will Tell You: Macroinvertebrates Spill the Beans

stonefl y nymph

mayfl y nymph

caddisfl y larva

Caddisfly larva, by Steve Solado, NABS, www.benthos.org

Mayfly nymph, by Howell Daly, NABS, www.benthos.org

Stonefly nymph by Brian Duffy, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
30 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

The Challenge: In groups of two or three formed with the help of your teacher, conduct a 

macroinvertebrate survey of the local waterway to which you have been assigned. Create a poster 

suitable for use in a presentation in which you communicate your fi ndings to others.

Your poster should include the following items:

The name of the waterway you investigated

A map of your waterway, locating it accurately in your region of the Northern Forests

A bar or pie graph of your fi ndings that shows the relative presence of each of the following 

categories of invertebrate in your waterway: sensitive, somewhat sensitive, and tolerant

A tally sheet that shows the raw data from your research

A concluding statement (paragraph) in which you explain your fi ndings and draw a conclusion 

about the health of your waterway based on the data you collected

Be prepared to use your poster to support a short presentation to the class in which you share your 

fi ndngs and conclusions based on those fi ndings. All members of your group should be prepared to 

answer questions about the study and defend the accuracy of your data and fi nal conclusions.

Be sure all of your work satisfi es the Quality Standards identifi ed below and in the Product Quality 

Checklist that follows.

Quality Standards: 

Bar/Pie Graph & Map (group activity): 

Different color for each bar/wedge

Neat

Accurate

Graph fi lls the page

Axes & bars/wedges clearly labeled

Appropriate increments

Title

Waterway highlighted on map

Presentation (group activity)

Informative

Accurate

Well designed and thought out

Clear

Interesting

Poster (group activity)

Student names, teacher name, and section in upper left corner on poster

Incorporates portions of the entire lesson

Attractive

Neat

Proper grammar and spelling

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The Bugs Will Tell You: Macroinvertebrates Spill the Beans
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 31

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Poster (group activity)

• Student names, teacher name, and section identifi ed

• Informative and interesting

• Accurate, neat, and clear

• Well designed and thought out

• Incorporates portions of the entire lesson

• Proper grammar and spelling

Bar/Pie Graph (group activity)

• Student names, teacher name, and section identifi ed

• Different color for each bar/wedge

• Neat and accurate

• Graph fi lls the page; appropriate increments

• Axes and bars/wedges clearly labeled

• Title

Map (group activity)

• Student names, teacher name, and section identifi ed

• Waterway highlighted on map

• Accurate, neat, and clear

Presentation (group activity)

• Student names, teacher name, and section identifi ed

• Informative and interesting

• Accurate, and clear

• Well designed and thought out

• Incorporates portions of the entire lesson

All members of the group are able to respond accurately 

to questions about their data and conclusions

•

Total

Comments: 

The Bugs Will Tell You: Macroinvertebrates Spill the Beans

Product Quality Checklist
32 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Science: Life Sciences

Language Arts: 

Listening & Speaking

Like Skills: Working with 

Others

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Lori Bishop and Karen 

VanAlstine

Ballston Spa Central School

Ballston Spa, NY

Grade Level/Course: 4 - 6

Investigative Question or Issue: How do plants and animals adapt to living in 

different environments?

Challenge: Work in groups to create a “Tour Guide” for a local nature trail or park.

Quality Standards:

The challenge is completed at the end of the 

allotted time.

The tour script contains correct spelling and 

punctuation.

All focus questions are addressed accurately 

and thoroughly for all three sites.

The tour is informative – it gives visitor 

important information about the plants and 

animals of the site.

The tour is interesting – the tour presenters 

use different tones of voice and speak to 

listeners directly.

The tour presenters point out specifi c 

connections between plant/animal 

adaptations and types of environment at 

each site.

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National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: Teachers will want to ensure that students have ready access to the 

various types of Northern Forest habitats/environments mentioned in this Challenge. Local nature 

trails, environmental centers, or parks may be a good place to stage this Challenge especially because 

they may permit repeat visits over a period of time to record observations and gather longitudinal data. 

The staff of such centers may be asked to visit with students to show them how to conduct a guided 

tour. The teacher will also want to spend time helping students understand the responsibilities of the 

different roles to which they may be assigned.

A Tour Guide for Northern Forest Environments

Photo courtesy of Sandra Hildreth
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 33

Student Handout

The Challenge: You are a member of a cooperative group of four. Each one of you will have one of 

the following jobs: zoologist, botanist, cartographer, or geologist. Your group will plan and conduct an 

interesting and informative guided tour of three different natural sites that can be found in a nearby 

Northern Forest area. Each site chosen should represent a different type of habitat. Here are examples 

of habitats: in or near water, dry or wet soil, sunny or shaded area. 

At each site on your tour, please be prepared to discuss the following focus questions:

1. What environmental conditions exist here?

2. What plants live here?

3. What animals live here?

4. How have the plants and animals adapted to survive here?

Please prepare a script of your tour and share it with your teacher. You will use this edited script to 

guide you when you conduct a mini tour for our class during week fi ve of this project. Make sure that 

the fi nal edition of this script has correct spelling and punctuation and that all the focus questions are 

answered accurately and thoroughly. Parents and community members will then be invited to take our 

guided tours. Each group will lead visitors along the trail and conduct their tour.

A Tour Guide for Northern Forest Environments
34 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

The challenge is completed at the end of the allotted time.

The tour script contains correct spelling and punctuation.

All focus questions are addressed accurately and thoroughly 

for all three sites.

The tour is informative – it gives visitor important information 

about the plants and animals of the site.

The tour is interesting – the tour presenters use different 

tones of voice & speak to listeners directly.

The tour presenters point out specifi c connections between 

plant/animal adaptations and the types of environment at 

each site.

Team members’ names are on all written work.

Total

Comments: 

A Tour Guide for Northern Forest Environments

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 35

Science: Earth & Space 

Sciences

Life Skills: Working with 

Others

Language Arts: Writing

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Sandra Bureau

Indian Lake Central School,

Indian Lake, NY

Grade Level/Course: 6 - 8 

Science

Investigative Question or Issue: Where does the rain go?

Challenge: In teams organized with the help of your teacher, produce a travel guide for a drop 

of water entering our local watershed from the atmosphere. You may choose any location in our 

watershed as the point of impact for the water droplet.

Quality Standards:

Travel guide is completed within 5 days.

Travel guide is no larger than two pieces of 8 1/2- x 11-

inch paper.

Travel guide is colorful and creative in the spirit of a travel 

guide. It includes narratives, graphics like a map that 

would allow the water droplet to “fi nd” its way, and pictures.

Travel guide is neat and easy to read. Standards of 

proper English are met.

Travel guide accurately describes the water cycle of the 

droplet. The processes of precipitation, evaporation, 

condensation, runoff, soaking in, and absorption are 

accurately and appropriately described as they apply to 

the droplet.

Travel guide indicates at least two possible paths of 

travel through the watershed for the droplet.

Travel guide accurately identifi es major features in our 

landscape.

Travel guide contains graphics at least one of which 

illustrates the water cycle for the water droplet.

Planning sheet and work schedule are completed on time 

and show a division of tasks and a realistic work schedule.

Work journal contains entries every day that accurately 

refl ect student activity and contributions as productive 

team members.

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National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: This Challenge is intended as a culminating experience after students 

have studied the topic of watersheds: what they are and how to map them.

Directions: Organize teams, provide resources, and hand out student directions along with the Product 

Quality Checklist. Allow 5 class days to complete the Challenge.

Teaching Tip

It might be fun and valuable 

to give this Challenge to 

your students before formally 

introducing the topic of 

watersheds. Some experts 

suggest that learning is more 

effective when students engage in 

constructing their own knowledge 

before getting an explanation. If 

they are actively trying to fi gure 

out “where does the rain go,” 

they will actually be discovering 

for themselves the defi nition of a 

watershed After this Challenge is 

completed, then all the facts and 

information about watersheds and 

why they are important will be 

much more meaningful and can 

probably be covered in less time. 

This is a more “constructivist” 

approach to teaching and learning.

Where Does the Rain Go?
36 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

The Challenge: In teams organized with the help of your teacher, produce a travel guide for a drop 

of water entering our local watershed from the atmosphere. You may choose any location in our 

watershed as the point of impact for the water droplet.

As you prepare your travel guide, please consider the following:

Your travel guide should be colorful, neat, and easy to read and understand. Proper English 

grammar and spelling are expected. Your guide should be no larger than two pieces of 8-1/2 x 

11 inch paper.

Your travel guide should be creative and catchy. Write it as if you want to attract every droplet 

of water to our area. Tell the reader about at least two possible pathways the droplet might take 

in the watershed as it makes its way back into the atmosphere. Provide a map and pictures so 

that a droplet could fi nd its way through our watershed. Include some narration to explain or 

describe the different paths the droplet might follow and the implications.

Be sure to use the terms precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, absorption,

and soaking in accurately as they describe the droplet’s experience in your watershed. 

Identify major features such as mountains, fi elds, parking lots, and rivers that the water may be 

traveling on or in. Identify what the water will be doing as it travels and how those features in the 

landscape can infl uence how the water travels. Will one pathway allow it to travel quickly? More 

slowly? Will it pick up things along the way?

Include graphics and illustrations wherever they may help support your message. You must 

include at least one graphic that accurately shows the water cycle as it applies to your droplet.

To assist you in planning and completing this project, you and your group should read the Challenge 

and the Product Quality Checklist and then brainstorm a list of necessary tasks. You will be asked to 

divide up the tasks, assign duties, and fi ll out a planning schedule to accomplish your project in the time 

allotted. Show this planning sheet to your teacher as soon as you can in the process.

Each team member is expected to keep a work journal with a record of accomplishments and 

refl ections for each day.

You will have 5 class days to complete this Challenge.

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Where Does the Rain Go?
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 37

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Form:

Travel guide no larger than two pieces of 8 1/2- x 11-

inch paper.

•

Travel guide is colorful and creative in the spirit of a 

travel guide.

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Travel guide is neat and easy to read; standards of 

proper English are met.

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Travel guide includes narratives and graphics such as 

a map that would allow the water droplet to “fi nd” its 

way and pictures.

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Process:

• Travel guide is completed within 5 days.

Planning sheet and work schedule are completed on 

time and show a division of tasks and a realistic work 

schedule.

•

Work journal contains entries every day that 

accurately refl ect student activity and contributions as 

productive team members.

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Content:

Travel guide accurately refl ects the water cycle and 

uses the following terms: evaporation, condensation, 

runoff, precipitation and absorption.

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Travel guide indicates at least two possible paths of 

travel through the watershed for the droplet.

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Travel guide accurately identifi es major features in 

our landscape.

•

Travel guide contains graphics at least one of which 

illustrates the water cycle for the water droplet.

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Above & Beyond

Total

Comments:

Where Does the Rain Go?
38 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Science: Understands 

the Nature of 

Scientific Inquiry

• Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Authors: Tammy Morgan & Dan 

Mayberry

Lake Placid Central School,

Lake Placid, NY

Grade Level/Course: 9 -12

Investigative Question or Issue: Why do leaves change color in the fall and are 

changes related to temperature?

Challenge: The color of a leaf is related to the concentrations of pigments. In teams, you will 

conduct a study of leaf pigment concentrations over a 1-month period in the autumn. Review the 

role of leaf pigments such as chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and anthocyanin and what happens 

when leaves begin to senesce in autumn, then develop some hypotheses about what you expect 

to happen to the leaf pigment concentrations and their relationship to temperature. Then, once 

or twice a week, your team will collect data on pigment concentrations. After collecting, graphing, 

and analyzing the data, your group will produce a scientifi c poster (with all the parts of a scientifi c 

paper) to present to your classmates and other interested people.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for Challenge: 

This Challenge is intended to help students understand the role of pigments in plant leaves. Students 

should connect this understanding with what happens as winter approaches, temperatures get colder, 

and leaves turn color and drop. This Challenge should also help familiarize students with the scientifi c 

process. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is a good species to use, but other species will work. If teams 

choose different species, they can compare potential differences.

To prepare for this Challenge the teacher should: 

1. Find some scientifi c literature about the colors of leaves and the physiological roles of each type 

of pigment.

2. Allot some time for student groups to digest the information together (perhaps with some guiding 

questions) and to develop at least two hypotheses about how pigment concentrations should 

change over time and in relation to changing temperatures.

3. Discuss the format of the scientifi c poster to be prepared and have students develop a list of 

criteria that can be turned into a rubric for product assessment.

Procedures:

Leaf Sampling Procedure (for each sampling time/date):

1. Use a hole punch to collect two leaf discs from each of four different leaves on one tree. Collect 

from one leaf in each of the cardinal directions (N,S,E,W) around the tree.

2. Collect all samples on the same day and at the same time.

Pigment Extraction and Measuring Procedures:

Changing Maples
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 39

Quality Standards:

The project is fi nished by the due date.

The poster is creative and informative.

Information is accurate and addresses the investigative question.

Background information is included about pigment changes related to time and temperature.

Assessment criteria in the poster rubric are met. (Criteria can be developed by the student or 

the Product Quality Checklist below can be used.)

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1. Chlorophyll/carotenoid

Into a small labeled test tube, pipet 3 ml of 80% acetone (20% water).

Put one of the leaf discs in and use a glass stir rod to gently grind the disc to break up the tissue 

and allow for better extraction. Repeat with each replicate disc.

Refrigerate in the dark at approximately 4 °C for 24 hours to extract pigment.

Spin in a centrifuge on high speed for approximately 1.5 minutes.

Pour off the supernatant into a cuvette and read absorption with a spectrophotometer at 470 nm 

for chlorophyll a, 647 nm for chlorophyll b, and 663 nm for carotenoids.

2. Anthocyanin:

Into a small labeled test tube pipet 3 ml of 3M HCL:H2

O:MeOH (1:3:16).

Put one of the leaf discs in and use a glass stir rod to gently grind the disc to break up the tissue 

and allow for better extraction. Repeat with each replicate disc.

Refrigerate in the dark at approximately 4 °C for 24 hours to extract pigment.

Spin in a centrifuge on high speed for approximately 1.5 minutes.

Pour off the supernatant into a cuvette and read absorption with a spectrophotometer at 530 nm.

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Teaching Tips

Depending on the grade level, this Challenge could be 

used to introduce basic statistical concepts like variation 

by teaching how standard deviations are calculated and 

graphed and what they mean. The experiment can be 

carried out for as long in the autumn as the teacher has 

time. It can be done with one species, or several, or each 

group could look at a different deciduous species. This is 

a great challenge for explicitly working with “the process of 

science”.

If time is available, the teacher could involve students 

in searching for available resources on the topic and in 

selecting tree species. Student groups could present why 

they might choose one tree or another and what pigment 

concentrations they might expect to see in the fall, given 

what colors they see in each of the species, or the role of 

that species in the canopy or in a successional sequence. 

After collecting data for several (3-5) species, groups of 

students could compare a subset of species and pigment 

types to answer a question they have phrased and support 

their discussion of the results using the literature.

Changing Maples

Photo courtesy of Sandra Hildreth
40 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Title: Centered, descriptive, large enough, includes authors’ names

Abstract: Brief description of purpose, methods, results, and 

conclusions (200 to 300 words typically)

Background information (giving credit to sources – includes 

citations):

Physiological role of the three pigment categories

A description of the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis

Reasons for leaf senescence in autumn

Possible relationships between pigment concentrations and 

temperature

Methods:

Describes how samples were taken (including number of samples, 

when taken), how they were prepared and analyzed

Describes how temperature was monitored (how often & where)

Provides enough detail so others could recreate the Challenge

Results: two graphs – one showing how pigments change over 

time and one showing how temperature changed over time

Graphs must be clearly labeled with units

Each graph must be accompanied by a short paragraph about 

what trends it shows

Discussion/Conclusions:

Describes how different pigments changed over time in relationship 

to each other and comments on whether or not the data appear to 

support the hypothesis

Describes how temperature changed in relationship to pigment 

concentrations and comments on whether or not the data appear 

to support the hypothesis

Talks about other research that supports or goes against the data; 

gives some possible explanations for this either way

Sections are separated and clearly identifi ed in a neat way

Visuals are helpful and aesthetically pleasing

Poster is easy to read from a 4- to 6-ft distance

Total

Comments:

Changing Maples

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 41

Foreign Language: Use 

of Written Language

Technology: Use of 

Software

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life 

Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Shannon McKeighan

Glens Falls Middle School

Glens Falls, NY

Grade Level/Course: 8 - 12 

Foreign Language

Investigative Question or Issue: How can we encourage non-English speaking 

tourists to visit our part of the Northern Forest region?

Challenge: Create a travel brochure or slide show in a language other than English (French, 

German, Swedish, etc.) that could be used to attract non-English speaking tourists to our part of the 

Northern Forest region.

Quality Standards:

Product includes a map of the Northern Forest region with at least eight physical features 

labeled.

A section of the brochure or sequence of slides is devoted to each of the four seasons. All 

information in each of these sections is in the language of the target non-English speaking 

population.

The name of each season is identifi ed.

Two or three weather conditions typical of the season with suggested clothing to adapt to those 

conditions comfortably are described.

Four or fi ve recreational activities that are common during the season that may be of interest to 

the tourist are described.

Several visuals that give viewers a sense of what the season will “look like/feel like” when they 

visit are included.

All information is accurate.

Language usage, vocabulary, and punctuation are correct.

Product is engaging and visually appealing.

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National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: Before issuing this Challenge, the teacher will want to ensure access to 

the appropriate computers and software (such as Publisher or PowerPoint) necessary to complete this 

project as written. Resource materials about the Northern Forest, both text and online, should also be 

available. Students need to have enough foreign language profi ciency to be able to compose written 

material effectively.

Directions: A student handout with the following requirements and a deadline should be prepared, and 

copies of the Product Quality Checklist may also be given out. They may be modifi ed to whatever the 

teacher feels is appropriate for the students in his/her classroom.

Non-English Speaking Tourists & the Northern Forest
42 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Product is engaging and visually appealing.

All information is accurate.

Language usage, vocabulary, and punctuation are correct.

Product includes a map of the Northern Forest region with at 

least eight physical features labeled.

The name of each season is identifi ed.

Two or three weather conditions typical of the season with 

suggested clothing to adapt to those conditions comfortably 

are described.

Four or fi ve recreational activities that are common during 

the season that may be of interest to the tourist are 

described.

Several visuals that give viewers a sense of what the season 

will “look like/feel like” when they visit are included.

Total

Comments: 

Non-English Speaking Tourists & the Northern Forest

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 43

Language Arts: Writing; 

Reading; Listening & 

Speaking

Life Skills: Thinking & 

Reasoning; Working with 

Others

Civics: What Should 

Government Do

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life 

Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Ray and Maryann 

Gawlas

Retired Educators

Grade Level/Course: 9 - 12, 

Language Arts or Government 

Course

Investigative Question or Issue: How might the presence of Chronic Wasting 

Disease affect the lifestyles of residents of the Northern Forest?

Challenge: Prepare for a debate in which you take either the “pro” or “con” side of the investigative 

question cited above.

Quality Standards:

Team presents its position in the debate using accurate 

and effective arguments.

Team uses specifi c data to support its arguments in the 

debate.

Each team member presents a work summary sheet 

at the end of every workday. This summary details the 

member’s contribution to the effort and thoughts on the 

topic and process.

Each team member hands in a one-page essay after 

the debate in which (s)he clearly explains his/her 

position on the issue. The essay contains at least three 

facts correctly cited.

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National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: This Challenge may require some “coaching” from the teacher as students 

prepare for the task. At a minimum the teacher will want to research and arrange for access to several 

Web sites that have current information relevant to the Challenge. Experts on the topic may also be 

invited to visit the classroom to speak with students. The teacher may also want to guide students on 

classic debate strategies when presenting and rebutting an argument effectively.

Distribute the student handout, organize teams, allow appropriate time for research, and create a 

classroom environment suitable for a debate or arrange to use the school auditorium. Students should 

turn in a work summary at the end of each day detailing what they accomplished.

Teaching Tip

Conducting the debate in front of 

an audience would really make 

this activity meaningful, because 

it would provide the students with 

a “real world” application of skills 

and knowledge.

The audience could be another 

class of students, parents, or 

perhaps even members of a local 

Fish & Game club.

Chronic Wasting Disease
44 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

The Challenge: In teams of four to fi ve students arranged by your teacher, prepare for a debate 

in which you take either the “pro” or “con” side of the investigative question on the effect of chronic 

wasting disease. In the debate the “pro” side will argue that “CWD will have no detrimental effects on 

lifestyles in the Northern Forest.” The “con” side will argue that “CWD will have a negative impact on 

lifestyles in the Northern Forest.”

As you research, be sure to gather accurate information on the following Focus Questions:

1. What is CWD? Where and when was it fi rst found? Where is it found now?

2. What environmental conditions are currently present in the Northern Forest that might support an 

outbreak of CWD?

3. What effect might CWD have on the various lifestyles found in the Northern Forest (deer hunters, 

wildlife observers, meat processors, sporting goods retailers, and other business people connected to 

these outdoor pursuits)?

4. What can be done to minimize the impact of CWD in the Northern Forest?

To ensure that all team members contribute their fair share to the success of the team’s effort, each 

member of your team is required to maintain a work journal to document his/her work and contribution 

each day.

After the debate, you will be asked to write a one-page essay that clearly explains your stance on the 

topic and includes a minimum of three factual statements in support of your argument. These facts 

must be cited properly.

Suggested Web sites:

www.dec.state.ny.us

www.agmkt.state.ny.us

www.nyhealth.gov/nysdoh/zoonoses/cwd.htm

www.cwd-info.org

Use the Internet to search for state fi sh and wildlife agencies, state agriculture and markets, state 

health departments, state and nationwide sportsmen’s groups, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

international fi sh and wildlife agencies, Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, or world health organizations.

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Chronic Wasting Disease
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 45

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Team presents its position in the debate using accurate and 

effective arguments.

Team uses specifi c data to support its arguments in the 

debate.

Each team member presents a work summary sheet at the 

end of every workday; this summary details the member’s 

contribution to the effort and thoughts on the topic and 

process.

Each team member hands in a one-page essay after the 

debate in which (s)he clearly explains his/her position on the 

issue; the essay contains at least three facts correctly cited.

Total

Comments: 

Chronic Wasting Disease

Product Quality Checklist
46 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Language Arts: 

Reading; Writing

Arts: Understands the 

Arts in Relation to History 

& Culture; Understands 

the Merits of Specifi c 

Artwork

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Terri Smith

Newcomb Central School

Newcomb, NY

Grade Level/Course: 9 - 12 

Language Arts

Investigative Question or Issue: How can an exhibit book refl ect our 

appreciation and interpretation of regional art and writing within the historical 

milieu in which they were created?

Challenge: Given a historical era, work individually and with your class to create an “exhibit book” 

that has uniform font and format and a cover representing a theme common among the book’s 

content.

Quality Standards:

See the Product Quality Checklist.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for Challenge: The students will analyze and write about regional art and literature of their 

choice (based on specifi c teacher directions) and will each contribute pages to a class “exhibit book.” 

The author of this Challenge was able to have a local artist give a presentation to her class on historic 

as well as contemporary artists whose work focused on this region. The guest artist also modeled 

the process of analyzing art (see supplementary art analysis worksheet). Artists of the Hudson River 

School created works in the 19th century inspired by a much broader region than the name implies, 

including much of the Northern Forest area. Many contemporary artists are also inspired by the forests, 

rivers, lakes, and mountains, and this project provides an opportunity to learn about local artists and 

craftspeople. Area arts councils or arts in education organizations may be able to provide funding for an 

“artist-in-residence.” Teaming up with an art teacher might also be useful.

Directions: Distribute and discuss handout, preferably after a presentation by an artist. Provide lists of 

appropriate regional literature, art history resources, and contemporary regional artists. Allow students 

to come to consensus on format, size, font, and design of the exhibit book that they will collectively 

produce. One or more students may elect to function as book editors or cover designers. Review the 

Product Quality Checklist.

“Autumn, Lampson Falls,” oil, 2005 

Sandra Hildreth

Art & Literature of the Northern Forest

Original art by Sandra Hildreth, used with permission.
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 47

Student Handout

Challenge: Given a historical era, work individually and with your class to create an exhibit book that 

has uniform font and format and a cover representing a theme common among the book’s content.

As an individual you will

Given a list, select a contemporary artist and piece of his/her art.

Working with the materials provided, select a literary companion piece (poem or excerpt from a 

larger work) for this art work.

Given a list and assigned an era, select a historic artist and piece of his/her art.

Working with the material provided, select a literary companion piece (from the same era) for 

this art work.

Select a third piece of art from either your contemporary artist or historical artist and write an 

original piece of literature as a companion piece to your selected art.

Write a critical essay of at least six paragraphs long that compares and contrasts your analysis 

of two pieces of selected art.

As part of the class you will work toward consensus to decide

The format and font for the written pieces in the book.

The way to display copies of the artwork in the book.

The theme, shape, and content of the cover of the book.

As a member of the class you will

Contribute your pieces of art and literature on time and following the guidelines decided on by 

the class.

Work as an editor, copy designer, or developer of the table of contents.

To achieve this goal, take notes as your guest artist models how to look at and interpret visual art. 

Review the “analyzing art” worksheet.

Use print and Internet sources to gather fi ne art, literature, historical information, and models for your 

book. (Keep a working bibliography.)

Use process writing to produce all written pieces for the book.

Use a variety of materials to create the book cover.

Work cooperatively.

Meet deadlines.

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Art & Literature of the Northern Forest
48 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Analyzing Artwork

Internal (Personal Observation)

1. Look at the artwork very carefully – what do you see? How would you describe it to a blind 

person?

2. How did the artist work with the “visual elements”? (How were lines, shapes, colors, textures, and 

values used? What is emphasized? What do you notice most?)

3. What meaning, mood, or message is communicated by this artwork? What do you think the artist 

wanted to communicate?

4. Judge the artwork – what do you like about it? (Hint: see #1, 2, & 3) Is it “meaningful” to you?

External (Historical Analysis)

1. This artwork best matches what “style” or art movement?

2. What was going on in the world that might have had an impact on this artist? Or, is there anything 

in the artwork that connects to other events?

3. How is this artwork judged by art historians and critics?

Art & Literature of the Northern Forest
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 49

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standard/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Exhibit Book

 Uniform font and format

 Attractive, neat, appealing

 Cover refl ects theme of contents 

 Cover attractive, neat, appealing

 Edited for no errors

 All bylines, titles, citations, etc. included

Creative Literature

 Typed

 Process writing used (pre-write, draft, revise, edit)

 Poetic devices effective

 Description/imagery included

 Interesting word choice

 Obvious connection with art

 Covers important aspects of the art piece

Compare/Contrast Critical Essay

 Shows evidence of understanding of artist

 Shows evidence of using research

 Includes thoughtful personal interpretation

 Employs the elements of analyzing art

 Compares fully both art pieces

 Contrasts fully both art pieces

 Uses process writing (pre-write, draft, revise, edit)

 Uses writing at grade level (language, organization, etc.)

 Developed fully using appropriate examples

Companion Pieces

 Good choices

 Historical period or movement aligned

 Connection evident and insightful

Individual Contributions

 Stay focused

 Work diligently

 Meet deadlines

Teamwork

 Consider others’ choices

 Meet deadlines

 Work for the good of the team

Research

 Keep working bibliography

 Take notes

 Include all sources

 Cite all pictures

 Use proper MLA Format

Total

Art & Literature of the Northern Forest

Product Quality Checklist
50 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Science: Life Sciences & 

the Nature of Science

Civics: Citizen Participation

Language Arts: Research & 

Writing

Arts: Use Elements & 

Principles for Effective 

Communication

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Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life 

Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Shannon Hansen

Ballston Spa Central School, 

Ballston Spa, NY

Grade Level/Course: 7 - 12, 

Chemistry, Language Arts, 

Government

Investigative Question or Issue: What can citizens do about acid rain?

Context for this Challenge: This task is designed to raise student awareness about the connection 

between science and politics. Before starting this unit, the teacher should collect examples of 

brochures, video clips, posters, handouts, articles from journals, letters, song lyrics, or political cartoons 

to show students the many ways that advocacy groups present their issue and views to the public and 

politicians. The teacher will also want to ensure that students have ready access to the Internet for 

research and to MS Publisher, Word, or similar programs for developing the written products of their 

choice.

Procedures:

Provide students with the Student Handout (page 52) and go over the directions.

Have students form teams of two and provide them with several examples of political advocacy 

media that environmental groups have used to raise public awareness of environmental issues 

or to persuade politicians to take a specifi c course of action on those issues. Teams are to 

discuss the question: “What are the characteristics of an effective advocacy message on 

any important environmental issue?”

Each team should reach its own conclusions on these characteristics and make a list. 

Conduct a discussion with the full class and create a master list of all the characteristics that can 

be agreed upon. This list will serve as part of your Product Quality Criteria for this Challenge.

The products should meet the Quality Standards and include the characteristics of effective 

advocacy as determined by the class discussion.

Arrange for 2 days in the computer lab to access the Internet for research on acid rain and its 

impact. Appropriate software applications should be available for students to use.

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Challenge: In a team of two, create a pamphlet and a complementary letter that is both informative 

and persuasive regarding the issue of acid rain and its impact on northern forests. Think of a local 

newspaper, a local politician, or a local organization as a potential audience for your product.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Acid Rain & the Northern Forest: A Chemical Perspective
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 51

The fi nal product is due fully completed and ready for presentation to the class on ________. At 

that time both co-authors should be prepared to respond to questions and defend their choices on 

any aspect of their work.

Quality Standards:

Advocacy Message (in letter and pamphlet):

Communicates in an informative way—contains at least 10 facts or pieces of information about 

acid rain that are scientifi cally verifi able

Communicates in a persuasive way—expresses an opinion supported by convincing evidence or 

argument

Meets the criteria for a quality advocacy message as set in class

Includes authors’ credentials

Contains well-written text that is basically free of spelling and grammatical errors

Includes illustrations, graphs, or diagrams that are factually correct

Cites specifi c law, policy, or ordinance, if possible

Calls for a specifi c action to take place

Uses research and computer lab time effi ciently

Challenge completed on time

Both co-authors can respond adequately to questions and defend choices on content/form of 

medium

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While primarily a science challenge, the interdisciplinary nature of this challenge involves 

creative art skills, persuasive writing, and encourages participation in government. 

Examples of student work can be found on the Adirondack Curriculum Project Web site at: 

adkcurriculumproject.org/NF05acidrain.htm

Acid Rain & the Northern Forest: A Chemical Perspective
52 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Student Handout

With a partner (team of two), examine several examples of political advocacy media that environmental 

groups have used to raise public awareness of environmental issues or to persuade politicians to take 

a specifi c course of action on those issues. Discuss the question: What are the characteristics of an 

effective advocacy message on an important environmental issue?

Reach your own conclusions about these characteristics and then discuss them with your classmates. 

Create a list of the characteristics to which you all agree. This list will serve as part of your Product 

Quality Criteria for this challenge.

CHALLENGE: Working as a team, think of a local newspaper, a local politician, or a local organization 

as a potential audience for your product. The team is to compose a letter and create a complementary 

pamphlet to send to its selected audience. The pamphlet and letter should be designed to be mailed 

out (it is optional), so they are to be serious and professional. Each partner will get an individual grade 

for what the team produces.

Quality Standards:

Communicates in an informative way — contains at least 10 facts or pieces of information about 

acid rain that are scientifi cally verifi able

Communicates in a persuasive way — expresses an opinion supported by convincing evidence 

or argument

Meets the criteria for a quality advocacy message as set in class

Includes authors’ credentials

Contains well-written text that is basically free of spelling and grammatical errors

Includes illustrations, graphs, or diagrams that are factually correct

Cites specifi c law, policy, or ordinance, if possible

Calls for a specifi c action to take place

Uses research and computer lab time effi ciently 

Challenge completed on time

Both co-authors can respond adequately to questions and defend choices on content/form of 

medium

You will be given 2 days in the computer lab to access the Internet as you research acid rain and its 

impact, and you will have access to various software applications if you choose to use them.

Your fi nal products are due fully completed and ready for presentation __________. Both co-authors 

should be prepared to respond to questions and defend your choices on any aspect of the work.

Related Resources

http://www.adirondackcouncil.org

http://classes.colgate.edu/aleventer/geol101/acidadir/acid14.htm

http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/acid_rain.htm

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain

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Acid Rain & the Northern Forest: A Chemical Perspective Art & Literature of the Northern Forest
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 53

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Advocacy Message: Letter & Pamphlet

Communicates in an informative way—contains at least 

10 facts or pieces of information about acid rain that 

are correct, specifi c, and scientifi cally verifi able

•

Communicates in a persuasive way—expresses an 

opinion that is supported by convincing evidence or 

argument

•

Conforms to the criteria for a quality advocacy message 

as set in class

•

• Includes authors’ “credentials”

Contains well-written text, in appropriate format, and 

basically free of spelling and grammatical errors

•

Includes illustrations, graphs, or diagrams that are 

factually correct

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• Cites specifi c law, policy, or ordinance, if possible

• Calls for a specifi c action

Process

• Research and computer lab time is used effi ciently

• Projects completed and handed in on time

Co-authors can respond to questions and defend 

choices about content and form adequately

•

Total

Comments:

Acid Rain & the Northern Forest: A Chemical Perspective

Product Quality Checklist
54 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

• Science: Understands 

the Nature of Scientifi c 

Inquiry

• Mathematics: Uses basic 

and advanced procedures 

while performing the 

processes of computation

Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author: Anne Green & Joe 

Winters

Hadley-Luzerne Central School

Lake Luzerne, NY

Grade Level/Course: 10 -12, 

Living Environment

Investigative Question or Issue: Do the trees in your forest have enough space 

to grow?

Challenge: In your lab groups, create a fi eld inventory of all the trees found in an area chosen 

with the help of your teacher. Your inventory should include an accurate accounting of the species, 

diameter, height, and basal area of each of the trees found in your plot. Once you have collected the 

data on each tree in your forested area, you will need to calculate the number of trees/acre, and the 

total basal area of trees/acre. As a group, you will then draw conclusions using the same charts that 

foresters use about whether the forest is “overstocked,” “adequately stocked,” or “understocked.” 

Be sure to check with your teacher to fi nd out the criteria for a quality fi eld inventory. Make sure that 

every group member understands and agrees with all the data submitted in your inventory and is 

prepared to verify, explain, and defend all the data submitted when asked to do so.

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Context for this Challenge: Foresters make management decisions (whether to thin or cut trees) 

based on forest inventory data. Inventory data can help provide information on how crowded a forest 

is, based on the number, size, and type of trees, and provide insight about possible disturbances in the 

recent past. The teacher can choose to have students do more interpretation of their inventory results 

in those areas. This Challenge specifi cally has students use forestry measurements and summaries to 

determine the density of the forest, which is reported as number of trees/acre and basal area of trees/

acre. Basal area (BA) of a tree is defi ned as the cross-sectional area of a tree stem at 4.5 ft from the 

ground, the height at which diameter is measured.

The teacher will want to show students how to use a Biltmore stick and give them some tools for tree 

identifi cation before beginning this Challenge. The students will eventually need to know the area (in 

acres) they are inventorying.

Procedures:

• Determine the minimum diameter of trees to inventory (4 inches is typical).

• Develop a fi eld plan for collecting the data (strategy for identifying and measuring all the trees; 

determine group roles/jobs.

• The equation for determining individual tree basal area (BA) is : BA (square feet) = DBH2

(diameter at breast height in inches times itself) X 0.005454.

Silviculture Challenge
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 55

Quality Standards:

Each group member participates in creating the fi eld inventory.

Each group member can demonstrate the capacity to identify a tree species using a tree 

identifi cation key.

Each group member can demonstrate the capacity to use a Biltmore stick to measure a tree in 

the fi eld. 

All aspects of the fi eld inventory meet the criteria for a quality fi eld inventory as agreed upon in 

class.

Each group member can verify, explain, and defend the data presented in the inventory when 

asked to do so.

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Resources:

http://www.fs.fed.us/na/morgantown/frm/stewardship/pubs/refhbk/refhbk.pdf

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/fl g/index.cfm

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Silviculture Challenge

NORTHERN HARDWOOD STOCKING GUIDE

Stocking guides for even-aged northern hardwoods, based on number of trees in the main canopy, average 

diameter, and basal area per acre. Stands above the A line are overstocked. Stands between the A and B lines 

are adequately stocked. Stands between the B and C lines should be adequately stocked within 10 years, and 

stands below the C line are defi nitely understocked.

From: A Silvicultural Guide for Northern Hardwoods in the Northeast. RP-NE-603.
56 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

All aspects of the fi eld inventory meet the criteria for a 

quality fi eld inventory.

Each group member can demonstrate the capacity to 

identify a tree species using a tree identifi cation key.

Each group member can demonstrate the capacity to use a 

Biltmore stick to measure a tree in the fi eld.

Each group member participates in the creation of the fi eld 

inventory.

Each group member can verify, explain, and defend the data 

presented in the inventory when asked to do so.

Total

Comments: 

Silviculture Challenge

Product Quality Checklist
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 57

You can download a blank “Challenge” template, formatted in Microsoft Word, from the Adirondack 

Curriculum Project Web site (www.adkcurriculumproject.org) or you can create your own. The easiest 

way to develop your own Challenge is to use the technique of “backwards planning.”

1. Identify some specifi c knowledge or skills that are already a part of your regular curriculum to adapt 

into a Challenge. Finding a way to connect the Challenge to your own community, region, or state can 

give it more meaning.

2. Because Challenges are meant to be “student-centered,” it’s important to think about what kind of 

product(s) your students could create that would enable them to show evidence of their understanding 

and skill level. One of the most effective things is to put students into the position where they need to 

“teach” or explain what they have learned to someone else – an “audience.” Create a poster. Write a 

letter to the editor. Design a diorama. Having several options is a great way to allow for students to use 

different learning styles.

3. Once you’ve decided upon the product(s), then work your way backwards and identify what kind of 

instructional activities and resources you’d need to provide to prepare your students for the Challenge. 

Some of these activities could be done in cooperative groups. This could also be an opportunity to 

incorporate skills specifi cally needed on standardized tests.

4. Clarify the Challenge statement now that you know what you expect the students to do. Develop an 

investigative question that will inspire your students to take the Challenge – Why do leaves change 

color in the fall? Does acid rain affect me?

5. Write the Quality Standards – guidelines for your students so they will clearly know what is expected 

of them.

6. Create the Product Quality Checklist. This is an assessment form using rubrics that ideally should 

be given to students while they are working on the Challenge. The points columns on the form have 

been left blank so teachers can customize them to emphasize what they feel are the most important 

components of the Challenge. Sometimes it is even possible for the students to help develop the 

checklist – what they think a “good quality” product should look like.

If you’d like to submit your Challenge to the Adirondack Curriculum Project for publication online, please 

visit the Web site (adkcurriculumproject.org) and use the Contact link to inquire about the process. All 

Challenges are reviewed and sometimes edited before publication.

This Challenge format might initially seem like more work, but in the long run, it involves the students 

more actively in designing and developing (constructing) their own learning, with the teacher providing 

resources, instruction, coaching, and guidance as needed. Besides meeting state and national 

standards, many Challenges provide opportunities to use important lifelong learning skills. You can 

learn more about the teaching approach known as Constructivism by visiting the Institute for Learning 

Centered Education’s Web site: www.learnercentereded.org.

How to Create Your Own Challenge
58 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21

• Culture & the Arts

Economy

Government & Civics

Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Human History

Natural History

Author:

Grade Level/Course:

Investigative Question or Issue:

Challenge: 

Quality Standards: 

National Standards Curriculum Content Area

Challenge Title
 Bringing the Northern Forest to Your Classroom GTR-NRS-21 59

Product Author(s): ____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________ Class: __________________________________________

Observed Standards/Criteria Points 

Possible

Points 

Awarded

Total

Comments: 

Challenge Title

Product Quality Checklist
Printed on Recycled Paper

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on 

the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial 

status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because 

all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication 

of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 

(202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Offi ce 

of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800)795-3272 

(voice) or (202)720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

Twery, Mark J.; Hildreth, Sandra J.; Evans, Celia A. 2008. Bringing the northern 

forest to your classroom. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-21. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 59 p.

In recent years the Forest Service has reemphasized the need for increased 

environmental literacy among the Nation’s citizens and has recognized the benefits 

of addressing that need among school-age children. This publication is a product 

of an Adirondack Curriculum Project workshop sponsored by the USDA Forest 

Service, Northeastern Research Station, and Paul Smith’s College. The workshop 

was held at Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake, NY, in June 2005. Great 

Camp Sagamore is operated by the Sagamore Institute, which is dedicated to the 

stewardship of the camp and to its use for educational and interpretive purposes. 

For 2 days, 22 teachers met with resource professionals with expertise in either the 

Northern Forest or in teaching methods and techniques, or both, and developed the 

lesson plans in this publication.

KEY WORDS: environmental education, constructivism, place-based learning, 

curriculum units, Adirondacks, environmental literacy, lesson plans
www.nrs.fs.fed.us

Capitalizing on the strengths of existing science 

capacity in the Northeast and Midwest to attain a more 

integrated, cohesive, landscape-scale research program