Recommended reading and vocabulary lists are available for teachers. In March, we tap our trees to illustrate the variety of techniques used by Native Americans, the pioneers, and the sugar bush owners of today. Students get a chance to cut wood with a two-person saw, watch the sap boil down into sweet syrup, and learn about how a tree functions. Games which follow the activities reinforce what has been learned. Students learn to calculate the height, diameter, and circumference of trees and use a formula to determine its approximate age.
Role playing as foresters, students determine the value of the trees ina measured section of land.
Our extensive taxidermy collection, fact sheets, and naturalists guide students on their journey. Weather permitting, naturalists begin this activity with an outdoor hike to familiarize students with the habitats of various animals. This unit truly integrates environmental education into the curriculum as students use math while learning to measure the depth, temperature, and volume of water in snow. Our naturalists can adapt or create programs to meet your curricular needs. Copyright 1997 Aldo Leopold Nature Center.