Succession and Forest Habitats Extensions for Students

Extensions for Students

Print version of "Succession and Forest Habitats": PDF • Word

Implement one or more of the ideas to improve habitat for migratory songbirds in the schoolyard. Identify birds in the schoolyard before and after steps are taken to improve the habitat.
Draw or paint a picture showing the five layers of a forest. Then make labels for each layer on cardstock, and use Velcro to attach the cards to the correct layers. Remove them and invite other students to try to label the layers correctly.
Read Bruce Hiscock's The Big Tree. This excellent book details the growth of one maple tree from 1776 until today. It is skillfully written to include explanations of concepts such as photosynthesis, counting tree rings to find a tree's age, and pollination of maple blossoms. The book is illustrated and lends itself to being read aloud. Compare the timeline on the book's dedication page to the timeline made in Session 2.
Read other children's literature and poetry about forests, trees, and birds (see Resources).
Take a field trip to Lake Anna State Park or another state park to learn about forests and seed dispersal, as in the activity "A Forest Grows" (see Resources).
Experience a virtual forest with Come Walk With Me...On a Virtual Tour of the Forest or Forests Forever interactive CD-ROMs (see Resources).
See Building an Outdoor Classroom in the Project Action Guide.