Lesso

n
Topic
Forest
Fires
Intro

Programs of
studies

Student Activities

Resources

English Language
Arts
5.1.2 seek the
viewpoints of others
to build on personal
responses and
understanding

Introduction
Watch PSA on Forests

https://youtu.be/Ep
xkZ4EiaAw
https://youtu.be/7e
F4D5L8ST8

6.2.1 apply
knowledge of
organizational
structures of oral,
print and other media
texts to assist with
constructing and
confirming meaning
Science
5.7.7 Distinguish
reversible from
irreversible changes
of materials, and give
examples of each
5.7.8 Recognize and
describe evidence of
a chemical reaction.
Explain how the
products of a reaction
differ from the
original substances.
Fine Arts Grade 5/6
3.1 Students will
study and analyze the
individual character
of natural objects or
forms

Lesson
Duratio
n
15 min

Have students discuss

importance of
forests/trees. Discussion
will move into the recent
forest fires in Alberta over
the summer. Students
should discuss what the
effects of these fires were
on the life of those who
live here.

Assesment

Observe what
previous
knowledge
students are
coming in
with

Create KWL chart around

Forest Fires and
importance of protecting
forests in Alberta.
Students should focus on
how the lives of Albertans
were/are affected by the
fires.
On
going
Activity 1
Students will be asked to
bring in news articles
related to forest fires
though out the course of
the unit.

45 min

Students will practice

their writing skills by
writing their own opinion
article arguing to support
or defend forest fire
fighting, or how the lives
of Albertans are impacted
by the (lack of) forest fire
prevention/fighting.

30 min

Check list to
ensure active
participation
of all
students
Formative
assessment
with feed
back

A. Natural forms tell

something about the
way they were made
B. Natural forms can
be examined for less
visible characteristics
C. The conditions
under which
something is viewed
affects what is seen;
e.g., natural screens
like snow and rain, or
lenses such as
telescopic,
microscopic and
coloured glass.
F. Natural forms
reveal many different
structures; e.g.,
skeletal, spiral,
orbital, radial,
floating, grid, fan,
arch, concentric,
faceted

Activity 2
Students will learn about
the science behind fire,
through classroom
experiments.
First students will put 1
piece of paper in water
and will watch the teacher
put the other on fire. Then
both pieces will be left
alone for the day.
Students will record
observations on how the
paper has changed and if
they find that it was
reversible or not.
Activity 3
Have students create
scratch art canvas.
Students should illustrate
how forest fires affect the
look of our forests.
Students can do visual
research for inspiration to
see the effect of forest
fires
One side of the canvas
should depict a healthy
thriving forest and the
other half should show a
forest that has recently
had a fire.

45 min

Observe if
students are
grasping the
concept of
permanent
chemical
changes vs
reversible
ones.

By this point
students
should be
showing a
strong grasp
of the
adverse
effects of
forest fires.
This should
be evident in
their art
.work