Oak Habitat Environmental
Education Resources for grades K-12
Compiled by Connie Barnes, Natural Resources Communications, Philomath, Oregon
The following oak education information was prepared to
assist educators in the field and the classroom, in preparing lessons or
activities related to oak ecology and habitats.
At this time, there is very little curriculum available that is
specifically tailored to
All of the OCWG membership shares an interest in and passion for oak habitat and its conservation. Many members have diverse backgrounds in natural resources (ecologists, botanists, foresters, biologists, etc.) and are available as a contact/volunteer to assist in the classroom, the field and/or by email/phone. Members can be reached through the LISTSERVE by submitting a message to: or-oak@cof.orst.edu
Acorn Naturalists - www.acornnaturalists.com/store/category
Acorn Naturalist is a
science education resource supplier of books, curriculum guides, and
outdoor/indoor educational supplies, materials and equipment. They have about a dozen oak related items, as
shown below. Most of the curriculum
however is based on California oak communities, but some activities can be
tailored to replace California oaks with Oregon white oak. There are two curriculum guides and several
storybooks listed below that offer some options for oak educational
programming.
INVESTIGATING THE OAK
COMMUNITY, A Curriculum Guide for Grades 4-8 . Kay Antúnez de Mayolo. Very useful resource for
studying majestic California oaks and the myriad of life they support.
Includes chapters on identifying oaks and understanding oak communities,
early uses of oaks by humans, and the need for protection and restoration.
Seventeen lessons utilize Project-Based Learning, wish to study and
projects they want to initiate. encouraging the students’ active
involvement in deciding what issues they
OAK WOODLANDS ACTIVITY
KIT. The activities found in
this family science adventure kit are designed for western oak woodlands,
but are applicable anywhere oaks grow. Explore oak ecology using
field-tested activity cards, oak woodland card set, magnifier, petri
dishes, magnifying observation box, pocket guide to western birds, field
guide to common western trees and personalized certificate of achievement.
Intriguing exploratory oak kit, perfect for ages 6-13.
Acorn Naturalists - oak related books - www.acornnaturalists.com/store/category
Amazon.com
- oak related books – www.amazon.com
National
Wildlife Federation - www.nwf.org
Habitats NatureScope®
Habitat Activity
kit for grades K-8. The kit includes
comprehensive background information, tips for teaching outdoors, 15 hands-on
activities and the Schoolyard Habitats Planning Guide. Topics covered include
habitat basics, plant growth, soil, food webs, biodiversity and habitat loss.
In addition to 15 habitat activities are eight activities in the planning
guide, designed to engage students in the creation of a Schoolyard Habitats
site. All of our activities have been aligned to the National Science Education
Standards. www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/natureactivities.cfm
National Wildlife Federation Magazine –
oak related article - www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueid=26&articleid=237
When Nature Goes Nuts - Observations from a U.S. Forest Service
scientist: decades of fire suppression, logging and other factors are changing
the makeup of some forests; the prognosis for reversing the current trend is
not good; factors that cause mortality of mature oaks are unlikely to change,
nor are the cultural practices that inhibit oak regeneration.
Oak Habitat Field Trip Sites
The following sites include easy to moderate trails,
restrooms and bus parking. Please visit
their websites for locations and more information.
Oregon - http://www.findthefun.com/lists/vxOR83.htm
Benton
County
Bald Hill Park - www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=565&Itemid=506
Beazell Memorial Forest - www.co.benton.or.us/parks/compare.htm#beaz
Finely National Wildlife Refuge - http://pacific.fws.gov/WillametteValley
Clackamas - http://www.co.clackamas.or.us/dtd/parks/info/park_map.htm
Douglas
- http://www.co.douglas.or.us/countyinfo/dcparks.html
Lane
- http://www.co.lane.or.us/parks
Linn
- http://www.co.linn.or.us/parks/parks.htm
Marion
- http://publicworks.co.marion.or.us/Parks
Washington
- http://www.co.washington.or.us/deptmts/sup_serv/fac_mgt/fac_mgt.htm
Yamhill
– http://www.co.yamhill.or.us/parks/index.asp
Baskett Slough National
Wildlife Refuge -
http://pacific.fws.gov/WillametteValley
Washington - http://www.trails.com/explore/AdvancedFind.asp?Keyword=State+Park&State=WA
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (RNWR)
An Educator's guide to the Ridgefield National
Wildlife Refuge - http://ridgefieldrefuges.fws.gov/adventure/resources.htm
This publication is
developed for use in planning field trips to the Ridgefield National Wildlife
Refuge. It contains detailed information for preparing for your trip to the
refuge, as well as an assortment of classroom, outdoor, and post-field trip
activities. The guide is a available for $15.00 from the Ridgefield National
Wildlife Refuge. For a copy of the Educator's Guide, please contact:
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, 301 North Third Street, Ridgefield, WA
98642, (360)-887-4106, email: Yvette_Donovan@fws.gov.
The Oregon White
Oak Habitat Trail and Learning Station
- http://ridgefieldrefuges.fws.gov/adventure/ls_habitat_oak.htm
Classroom and field trip activities relating to Oregon white oak.
Habitat
Crisscross: Print out this crisscross puzzle, then answer the clues. Click
on the glossary button at the top of this page if you need help.
Thinking
it Over: Print out this matrix to help you describe your favorite place
from your trip to the refuge. You'll use all of your senses!
Habitat
Bingo: Play this bingo game on your trip through the refuge.
Mini-Expedition:
Explore a refuge habitat in detail by studying a small section of it and
recording your observations.
Oak Restoration Sites Database - http://www.open.org/~admdmg/oregonoaks/draftresdef.shtml
The Oregon Oak Communities Working Group is collecting data on oak restoration projects throughout Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. They have put together an Excel workbook database of completed projects and those that are in the process of completing. The goal is to have a fairly comprehensive list of complete, ongoing, and potential oak restoration projects that will be available to view on this page. Once the database is complete it can be used by those interested in doing restoration projects that want information, such as methods, results, monitoring activities, and lessons learned. It will also be a resource for educators and groups that are tracking oak restoration projects on the regional and landscape level.
Oak Education Projects in
Process
Benton County Extension - http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton
Project Contact: Maggie Livesay, maggie.livesay@oregonstate.edu
Project title: Ecology Field Cards of the Willamette Valley, Oregon
Project description:
(1) Set of fifty field identification cards that illustrate and describe common organisms (plants, fungus, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects) found in an oak woodland/savanna. These laminated, field ready, 4x6 inch graphically rich cards assist youth in learning about the characteristics, habitat, reproduction, human use and additional interesting facts of common species. Included in the set is a special ecology card, invasive species card and endangered or threatened species card to stimulate discussion on the ecological principals relevant to the habitat. Target audience for these educational materials is 4-6th grade but applicable to all age groups.
(2) Accompanying each card set is an educator’s guide, designed to increase
awareness and knowledge of the habitat types and variety of species in the
Willamette Valley, Oregon. Also included in this guide is a description of how
to use the cards, listing and brief description of various habitat types in the
Willamette Valley, locations where the Ecology Field Cards can be used, sample
of relevant educational activities aligned with Oregon’s Educational
Standards for Science, glossary of terms and other supplemental
materials and references helpful to educators.
(3) Whether you are a classroom teacher, nature center instructor, park and natural area educator or just someone who has an interest in the common organisms that live in the Willamette Valley this guide will provide information to assist you in exploring the variety of habitats in this rich ecosystem.
OSU Extension and the US
Fish and Wildlife Service
Project contacts: Brad Withrow-Robinson, OSU Extension
Forester, Polk, Marion and Yamhill Counties. brad.w-r@oregonstate.edu
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/yamhill/forestry/index.html
and Ken Niethammer, Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Refuge
Manager,
Baskett Slough and Ankeny NWR. kenneth_niethamer@fws.gov,
http://pacific.fws.gov/WillametteValley/
Project title: Education
and Demonstration Initiative for Native Woodland Conservation and Restoration
Project description:
Beginning in Spring 2005, this program will develop
educational resources about the ecology, conservation and restoration of oak
woodlands, savannas and bottomland forests of the Willamette Valley. We will take advantage of on-going
restoration activities at Baskett Slough NWR and other restoration projects in
the Valley to develop a much-needed network of designed educational sites and
other infrastructure to illustrate management options and support a variety of
planned educational activities.
Audiences: Private landowners and other land
managers; K-12 and college students, teachers and other youth leaders; and local
communities adjacent to participating project sites.
Educational activities: Classes, workshops and tours
for land owners and managers to examine conservation and restoration management
practices and ecological responses; Field trips and other learning events and
experiences for mid-Valley students and; Outreach education explaining the importance of and reasons for restoration
management activities to the local community.
Educational infrastructure development will include
permanent demonstration plots, treatment studies, nature trails and
interpretive signage. This project is supported by a grant from the Spirit
Mountain Community Fund. We hope to
expand educational resources and create better opportunities for learning about
native woodland conservation and restoration throughout the Willamette
Valley. We welcome additional partners
in this effort.
Wolftree, Inc. and the American
Bird Conservancy
Project Contact: Wolftree, Inc. www.beoutside.org & Bob Altman, www.abcbird.org
Project description: Science in the Forest, Oregon White Oak Module classroom and field activities are currently being developed to:
(1) Provide
opportunities for advanced high school students, college students, and adults
to study this unique forest type in Wolftree’s Science in the Forest Program,
which includes community-based projects in forest monitoring and youth
development projects in forest restoration. For teachers already enrolled in Wolftree’s
Science in the Forest and Science Enrichment Programs, Wolftree will
provide an Oregon White Oak Module (OWOM) as an option for their two-day,
intensive field study.
(2) Encourage
and help teachers integrate basic information about Oregon White Oak forest
habitat types and associated wildlife issues into established science
curriculum for the general population of students in grades 4th – 12th.
(3) Post on
Wolftree’s website a comprehensive resource page of curriculum and literature
covering the science, management, and conservation topics concerning Oregon
White Oak.
Other
Environmental/Forest Educational Resources & Curriculum
Classroom Earth - www.classroomearth.org
Classroom
Earth is a website designed to provide information about environmental
education resources available for teachers, youth group leaders,
outdoor/environmental education instructors/field guides, etc. The website is funded by the National
Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF), a private non-profit
organization dedicated to advancing environmental education in its many forms.
They ranked the following EE guidebooks as the most widely used and innovative.
A Child's Place In The Environment - www.acpe.lake.k12.ca.us
Grades: K-6
Description: A Child's Place in the Environment is
an integrated hands-on environmental education curriculum for grades K-6. This
series of 6 curriculum guides integrates science, English-language arts, and
selected children's literature into student projects to enhance and improve
their environment. To order the
materials or schedule a training session, call (707) 263-7249.
Audubon Adventures - www.audubon.org/educate/aa
Grades: 3-6, also adaptable for middle school
students
Description: Audubon Adventures offers environmental
education for grades 3-6 through a self-guiding Classroom Kit. Audubon
Adventures was developed in 1984 by the National Audubon Society, a leading
non-profit conservation organization. To order, call (800) 340-6546.
Habitat Ecology Learning Program - www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/natureactivities.cfm
Grades: 4-6
Description: The Habitat Ecology Learning Program
offers environmental education for grades 4-6 through an exciting
interdisciplinary curriculum consisting of a collection of six modules: How
Nature Works, Rain Forests, Grasslands, Wetlands, Deserts, and Temperature
Forests.
Investigating & Evaluating
Environmental Issues & Actions
Grades: 6-12
Description: Investigating & Evaluating
Environmental Issues & Actions: Skill Development Program offers
environmental education for grades 6-12 through a teacher's manual and student
manual designed to teach students how to investigate and evaluate
science-related social issues. To order, call (217) 356-8391.
Living Lightly In The City
& Living Lightly On The Planet - www.acornnaturalists.com
Grades: 4 Volume Program covering grades K-12
Description: Living Lightly in the City & Living
Lightly on the Planet offer environmental education for grades K-12 through a
set of curriculum materials that include four environmental education
guidebooks that focus on different topics and grade levels. To order any of the
guidebooks call (800) 422-8886.
Project Learning Tree - www.plt.org
Grades: K-12, with activities adaptable to
specific grade levels.
Description: Project Learning Tree® (PLT) is an
award winning, broad based environmental education program for grades PreK-12.
PLT activity guides and supplemental modules provide the needed tools to bring
the environment into classrooms - and students into the environment. For more information call (202) 463-2462.
Project Wild - www.projectwild.org/materials/materials.htm.
Grades: K-12, with activities adaptable to
specific grade levels.
Description: Project WILD offers environmental
education for grades K-12 through an attractive 500-page curriculum and
activity guide focusing on wildlife. Project WILD was created in 1983 and is
co-sponsored by the Council for Environmental Education, a national
organization based in Houston, TX and the Western Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies. The curriculum and activity guide was designed in
consultation with teachers and scientific experts nationwide. Over 900,000
teachers have been trained on and use the materials of Project WILD which has
reached millions of students.
Windows On The Wild - www.worldwildlife.org/windows/material.html
Grades: 5-8, with activities adaptable to other
grade levels.
Description: Windows on the Wild is the
environmental education curriculum developed in 1996 by the World Wildlife
Fund, a leading international wildlife conservation organization. The
curriculum includes a series of modules designed mainly for middle school,
adaptable to other grade levels.
Earthways - www.ghbooks.com
Grades: PreK-2.
Description: Earthways: Simple Environmental
Activities for Young Children offers environmental education for grades PreK-2
through a self-guided activity book, written in 1992 by Carol Petrash, a
preschool teacher in Maryland for over 15 years and an active
environmentalist. To order the activity
guide call (800) 638-0928.
Eco-Inquiry - www.kendallhunt.com
Grades: 5-8
Description: Eco-Inquiry is packaged as a 392-page
curriculum guide which includes experiments and research to help provide
students with an understanding of ecological processes and how they affect a
specific site in their local environment. The guide is divided into 3 modules,
each of which addresses a particular concept area such as food webs, nutrient
cycling, and decomposition. To order the
activity guide call (800) 228-0810.
Environmental Science Activities Kit - www.teachervision.com/lesson-plan/lesson-10119.html
Grades: 6-12
Description: Environmental Science Activities Kit:
Ready-to-Use Lessons, Labs & Worksheets offers environmental education for
grades 6-12 through a collection of 32 detailed, environmental science lessons.
It was written in 1993 by Michael Roa, who has been teaching since 1969. Training is not required to receive the
Environmental Science Activities Kit. To order the kit call (800) 288-4745.
Project Seasons - www.shelburnefarms.com
Grades: PreK-6.
Description: Project Seasons: Hands-on Activities
for Discovering the Wonders of the World offers environmental education for
grades PreK-6 through an activity book which offers interdisciplinary seasonal
activities relating to conservation, agriculture and natural science. For
information on training and the activity book call (802) 985-8686.
Sharing Nature With Children - www.sharingnature.com
Grades: 6-12
Description: Sharing Nature with Children offers
environmental education for grades PreK-12 through a 168-page book written by
Joseph Cornell and published by the Sharing Nature Foundation. To order call
(866) 693-4263.
The Leopold Education Project - www.lep.org
Grades: 5-8
Description: The Leopold Education Project: Lessons
in a Land Ethic offers environmental education for grades 5-8 through a set of
curriculum materials ranging from a teacher's guide/workbook to task cards to a
video biography of Aldo Leopold. To find out about a workshop in your area,
call (877) 773-2070. For more general information about The Leopold Education
Project, send an e-mail to lep@pheasantsforever.org.
Supplemental materials are available without training.