Succession and Forest Habitats

Succession and Forest Habitats Lesson Plan Time Required: Three 45-minute sessions

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

Objectives

Students will

identify the effects of loss and fragmentation of forest habitat on migratory songbirds
evaluate the benefits of forests to wildlife and watershed resources
compare the percentage of forested land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of the 17th century to the percentage forested today
research succession of a forest over a 200-year time span and construct a timeline that charts the plants, animals, and key historic events occurring during the growth of the forest
compare the amount of time it takes to cut down a forest to the time it takes for one to grow to maturity
collect data on trees in the schoolyard and use the information to predict how many birds will be found in the schoolyard
devise a plan to improve habitat for migratory songbirds in the schoolyard.

Related Standards of Learning

Science

3.1.a; 3.1.g; 3.1.j; 3.6.b; 3.6.c; 3.8.b; 3.10.a; 3.10.b; 3.10.d;
4.1.a; 4.1.b; 4.5.d; 4.5.e; 4.5.f; 4.8.a; 4.8.d;
5.1.a; 5.1.f; 5.7.e; 5.7.f;
6.1; 6.2.d; 6.7.a

Mathematics

3.5; 3.7; 3.14;
4.2; 4.6; 4.10; 4.11;
5.2; 5.3; 5.9;
6.9; 6.10

English

3.1; 3.3; 3.4; 3.6; 3.7; 3.10; 3.11;
4.1; 4.3; 4.5; 4.6; 4.7.a; 4.7.b; 4.7.c; 4.7.d; 4.7.e; 4.8;
5.1; 5.4; 5.6; 5.7; 5.8; 5.9;
6.1; 6.2; 6.3; 6.5; 6.6; 6.7

History & Social Science

VS.1.b; VS.1.d; VS.1.h;
USI.1.a; USI.1.b; USI.1.c; USI.1.d; USI.1.e;
USII.1.a; USII.1.b; USII.1.c; USII.1.f; USII.2.b

Materials

Flute's Journey, by Lynne Cherry (see Resources)
history books
1 or more cameras
paper and crayons
string and index cards
measuring tapes and meter sticks
Internet access or tree identification guides

For each student

"Forests key to health of Chesapeake Bay," by Kathryn Reshetiloff (see Resources)

For each group:

several large sheets of poster paper
drawing and writing materials
sections of How the Forest Grew, by William Jaspersohn (see Resources)
clipboard (optional)

Top of Page