The Nature of Fire

Discover Your Forest

 

Grade:  6th-12th grade
Length:  2+ days
Location:  Classroom presentations and field trips
Cost:  Free
Timeframe:  April and May
NGSS Standards:

  • LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
  • LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans
  • ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
  • ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
  • ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
  • ESS2.D: Global Climate Change
  • MS-ESS3-2: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects. 
  • MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment. 
  • MS-ESS3-4: Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems. 

 

Objectives:

  • To develop an understanding of fire behavior with connections to climate and plant adaptations
  • To develop an understanding of how land management agencies work to prevent and/or reduce the impact of fires through fuels reduction and forest management
  • To communicate scientific information through posters developed for the community about forest and fire management

 

Description:

The Nature of Fire program is a new program for middle and high school students that connects students to real-world strategies and solutions for managing wildfire risk in our communities.  The program includes both in-class and field trip components where students connect with natural resource professionals.  Students will use field science to compare manage and unmanaged forests near their schools, and visit areas where fires have occurred.  The program shares strategies used by both federal land management agencies and tribal communities.

To learn more and schedule a program, contact Karen Gentry at [email protected].