Self Directed Lesson 2
ACTIVITIES IN UNIT II: FIRE EFFECTS AND BEHAVIOR
from ROLE OF FIRE IN ALASKA
Tundra and Forest Fire Triangle (5-12)
By playing a card game, students create fire triangles and identify fuel types.
How Hot Is It? (8-12)
Students participate in a card game simulating fire intensity and fire lines.
Tundra and Boreal Forest Fire Hunt (4-12)
Students investigate real and hypothetical burn sites.
Fire Effects on Forest and Tundra Wildlife (3-6)
Students will depict an ecosystem by creating a mural.
Looking at Fire in the Ecosystem (2-8)
In this writing activity, students consider the effects of fire through the eyes of people, plants, and animals.
True or False, Forest Fire Misconceptions (3-12)
Students try to determine if statements about wildland fires are true or false.
Good or Bad Effect of Fire in the Tundra or Forest – Who’s to Say? (8-12)
Students individually evaluate some effects of wildland fires and compare them to group evaluations. Students also discuss
how different view and opinions are generated.
Boreal Forest and Tundra Crossword Puzzle (6-12)
Students complete a crossword puzzle to reinforce vocabulary used in Unit I and Unit II.
Concepts covered in Unit II: Fires Effects on the Ecosystem
• Fire triangles
• Types and characteristics of fuels in both ecosystems
• Types and characteristics of surface, ground and canopy fires • Fire intensity
• Physical characteristics that affect fire intensity
• Fire impact on an ecosystem
• Fire effects on wildlife
• Fire effects on people
• Examination of a burn site
Watch:
PLT video Lesson 2 “Fire Effects”
“Physical Features of the Boreal Forest – Permafrost”
“Types of Fires”
“What Is Fire?”
“Spruce Needle Rust”
Read:
Forest Fire Triangle
How Hot a Fire Is It?
Succession Race
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:
Copy “playing pieces” sheet from Forest Fire Triangle, cut into pieces and “play the game” yourself, creating 5 fire triangles. Then put them in order of intensity from least to most as per the How Hot a Fire activity.
( for more Fire Triangle activities, you may want to look at Making Fires Burn or Go Out 2 in FireWorks)
EXTRA ACTIVITY
Boreal Forest Fire Hunt
Grade Level: 4-12
Skills: Observation, Classification, Comparison, Description
NGSS: 5-ESS3-1
MS-LS2-1 / MS-LS2-4 / MS-ESS3-2 / MSESS3-3
HS-LS2-1 / HS-LS2-2 / HS-LS2-7 / HS-ESS3-5
Learning Objective: Students will describe some of the effects of fire on a boreal forest or tundra ecosystem.
Boreal Forest Fire Hunt (Role of Fire curriculum )