Education Standards
How Wildfires Help! from Science for Kids
How Wildfires Spread by The Weather Channel
Introduction to Fire Behavior by World of Wildland Fire
Note Taking Graphic Organizer
POWER Library
Research Notes Graphic Organizer
Research Rubric
Rubric for Creation Projects
Rubric for Student Reflection
The Science of Wildfires by SciShow
What Causes Wildfires? from BBC Earth Unplugged
Wildfire 101 by National Geographic
Wildfires Lesson Reflection
Forest Fires / Wildfires
Overview
This lesson is about forest fires and wildfires.
Lesson Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Understand the components of fire.
- Understand how forest fires impact the environment.
- List and explain the wildfire stages.
- Discuss ways to prevent fires and recommend ways of protecting homes and communities.
- Determine design ideas and content for an educational flyer / brochure.
- Design a flyer / brochure to share their ideas and research.
Warm Up / Introduction
Insructor Notes:
To introduce the topic of wildfires, students should be broken down into groups. Each group will be assiged a specific topic about wildfires. These topics are:
- Fire behavior
- Science of wildfires
- Wildfires 101
- How wildfires spread
- How wildfires help
- Causes of wildfires
Each group will use the Note Taking Graphic Organizer and record what they know about the specific topic they were assigned.
Groups will watch the appropriate video for their topic and record key points and details so they can share them with the other groups. These should be recorded on the Note Taking Graphic Organizer.
In addition to the key points, groups should also write down any new words they hear in the vocabulary section of the graphic organizer.
Once they have finished the video, the group should discuss what additional questions they have and record those as well.
Videos can be replaced with others you may already have access to.
Extended Activity: Vocabulary words can be used for an online matching game after they look up their definitions. Online platforms that can be used includes WISC-Online and Quizlet.
Assessment: Assessment on this activy will be completed using the Group / Teamwork Rubric.
Activity Directions:
Upon completion of the Note Taking Graphic Organizer by each group, volunteers will share what the group learned about each topic. |
Research / Explore Activity
Instructor Notes:
Students should use their researching and critical thinking skills to locate answers to questions about wildfires. They will record their findings on the Research Notes Graphic Organizer.
Assessment: Assessment for this activity can be done by using the Research Rubric.
Activity Directions:
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Reinforcement / Creation Activity
Instructor Notes:
Students will be asked to present the information in a three-panel visual aid. This brochure will be used as a teaching tool to help educate others about forest fires / wildfires.
As the instructor, you should tell the students how sophisticated the brochure should be. Should they include graphics or should they be all text. Convey to the students what items will be mandatory. Additional lines may need to be added to the rubic for other elements.
A brief overview of the steps needed to create a trifold may need to be reviewed.
The trifold / brochure can be created using paper and markers or on a computer using a computer program such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Assessment: Assessment can be done using the Rubric for Creation Projects.
Activity Directions:
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Reflection
Instructor Reflection:
- Refect on the lesson plan and document what worked for you, what did not work for you, and what you would change for the next time you utilize this lesson.
Activity:
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