Three Minnesota schools part of International Year of Forests campaign

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Three Minnesota schools part of International Year of Forests campaign
(Released February 8, 2011)


Three Minnesota classrooms have created displays - called “Forest Boxes” - of their school forests. to showcase the unique characteristics of their outdoor classroom, as part of the United Nations 2011 International Year of Forests campaign.

Images of forest boxes: http://www.forestfoundation.org/forest_exchange_boxes_gallery.html

International Year of Forests: http://www.un.org/en/events/iyof2011/

 
These boxes will be displayed at a variety of events across the country throughout 2011, including Washington, D.C., during a meeting on America’s forests and the role of environmental education.The three Minnesota classrooms are: Chris Holmes’ fifth graders at Roosevelt Elementary in Virginia; Julie Short’s fourth graders at Bay View Elementary in Proctor; and Stanley Mikles’ seventh graders at Hill City Secondary in Hill City.
Minnesota Project Learning Tree and the School Forest program, two programs sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, picked the three classrooms to participate. Each teacher has successfully integrated environmental education into their curricula to teach language arts, math, science, and social studies in their indoor and outdoor classrooms, in all seasons.

Students collected leaves, cones, seeds, twigs, moss, beaver-chewed branches, and rocks and minerals. From these, they created field guides, drew and labeled scientific illustrations, and created maps. Students also snapped photos of the many ways they use their forests: maple syruping, water and ecosystem studies, nature journaling, and applied mathematics through measuring trees. They learned about current threats to forests, including invasive species, climate change, and changes in recreation.

The materials represent the benefits that derive from forests - like clean air, water, recreation and community enjoyment.

The International Year of Forests campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges facing the world’s forests today, promoting dialogue about forests and people, and calling to action much-needed forest conservation. It will also serve as motivation for others to help sustain and manage our forests for the future.