Reviewed by Sarah Haines
Science Education Professor
As a science education professor whose teaching and research interests are in the areas of environmental literacy, science, and education, I found this resource to be very useful. The product of experienced teachers, the book contains forestry activities and investigations that could be used in high school or college environmental science, biology, botany, or ecology courses. Additionally, the investigations meet the requirements for a valid field experience as defined by the College Board as a necessary component of AP environmental science courses.
The manual begins with a chapter covering historical and background information on the forests of the United States. Next, basic principles of forestry practices are surveyed, including disturbance, silvicultural methods, and applications of these methods. The remainder of the manual gives methods for completing field studies with students investigating the following topics—vegetation analysis, abiotic and biotic factors, commercial timber value measurement, and the ways in which forests can be used for recreation and by wildlife. Tips for classroom follow-up are provided.
With so much emphasis being placed on authentic learning experiences and taking students outside to learn, this manual is very timely and would be useful for many teachers in the life science fields. It provides both content background and practical field tips that would be useful for many classrooms.
Review posted on 1/8/2010
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