Forest Learning at Home

The Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) has been building a library of grade-appropriate resources – each aligned to state education standards – to help teach students about the wonders of the forests throughout our state. These are resources that can be used for learning at home.

All of OFRI's educational materials are available for FREE DOWNLOAD.

Here are some sample "mini lessons" using our materials designed for at-home learning. Each lesson explores a forest-related topic through a combination of reading, writing, scientific investigation and other fun, engaging activities. This is just a sampling of the many resources we have to offer for K-12 education. Explore our online learning library to find more educational materials to try at home.

We wish you good health, good spirits, and a good time learning about Oregon's forests.
Grades K-2 | Grades 3-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 7-12

SAMPLE ACTIVITY CLUSTERS:

What Comes from the Forest?
(Grades K-2)

Forest Activity Sheet. This black and white, double-sided activity sheet highlights how forests provide wood products and also wildlife habitat. Attractive illustrations act as a coloring activity as well.

Sounds of the Forest. This colorful book explores the animals that live in the forest and their habitat. Good for early readers or for reading aloud.

Forest Essays Grades 2-3. This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions.

Forest Types
(Grades 3-5)

Forest Fact Break: Forest Types. This is part of an animated series explaining different forest-related topics. This Fact Break identifies the five most common types of forests found in Oregon, along with their geographic range and characteristics. There are 14 other animations in the Fact Break series.

Oregon’s Forests poster. The electronic version of this classroom poster provides a map showing the statewide locations of the most common conifer and hardwood tree species, where they’re found, and descriptions of ecological and climatic conditions in which they thrive.

Oregon’s Forests Instruction Guide. This companion to the Oregon’s Forests poster has some suggested activities to do with the poster and also includes a student worksheet comparing forest types that requires students to do additional research about Oregon’s forests.

Into the Forest. This student workbook provides a grade-appropriate overview of Oregon’s forests, including forest ecology, tree biology, forest management and forest careers. It’s got great illustrations, puzzles and activities to engage students. Into the Forest is also available in Spanish.

Forest Values
(Grades 3-5)

Explore the Forest. This student workbook provides an overview of Oregon’s forests, including forest ecology, tree biology, forest management and forest careers. It explores how we as a society need to balance the economic, ecological and social values of our forests. Illustrations, puzzles and activities engage student interest.

Explore the Forest Teacher’s Guide. This companion to Explore the Forest provides tips for using the activities in the publication, suggests follow-up discussion questions and activities, and identifies the state educational standards relevant to this material.

Forest Essays Grades 4-5. This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions.

Forest Fact Breaks. This animated series explores 15 different topics related to the forests of Oregon. From basic introductions such as Forest Types and The Water Cycle, to more advanced topics such as Carbon Capture and Forest Sustainability. They’re fun, they’re fast, and they’re full of useful information.

Forest Wildlife
(Grades 6-8)

Life in the Forest. This student workbook broadens students’ understanding of how forests provide habitat for different wildlife species. It highlights current wildlife research and presents real scientific data for students to analyze. Lessons and activities in the book are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Life in the Forest Instruction Guide. This companion to Life in the Forest includes background information and additional resources to help parents and teachers go deeper into the material included in the student publication. The guide also includes learning activities that are aligned with educational standards. Check out more supplemental materials for this publication here.

Forest Essays Grade 6. This illustrated collection of essays addresses topics related to Oregon’s forests, including wildlife, forestry and tree biology. Each essay includes reading comprehension questions. There are more advanced essays (grades 7-12) here.

Forest Fact Break: Wildlife. This animation explains why forest animals live where they do, and what happens to wildlife populations when the age and characteristics of a forest change. This is part of the larger 15-episode Fact Break series explaining all aspects of Oregon’s forests.

Careers in Forestry
(Grades 7-12)

Forest Proud. This short video introduces viewers to a few members of the team that make Oregon’s forests work. In a trip around the state, the video highlights that these roles all work together to create long-term sustainable forests and forest products.

Find Your Path. This student workbook introduce readers to the wide range of professionals that make up Oregon’s forest sector. One out of every 20 jobs in the state comes from the forest sector and includes everything from wildlife biologists and nursery managers, to engineers and electricians. Through a series of profiles of forest professionals, this publication gives an overview of what their jobs entail and what educational path they took to get there.

Find Your Path Instruction Guide. This companion to Find Your Path includes additional activities, lesson plans and background information to help parents and teachers go deeper into the material included in the student publication. The guide also includes a list of additional resources and it is aligned to state educational standards.

THE AVAILABILITY OF FIELD AND IN-CLASS PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. PLEASE CHECK EACH PROGRAM'S WEBSITE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.

Field Programs

Forests Today and Forever Hopkins Demonstration Forest Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program Port Blakely Forestry Tillamook Forest Center Starker Forests Tryon Creek State Park Mt. Pisgah Arboretum Klamath Outdoor Science School Rock-Ed Outdoor Education Center Oregon 4-H Outreach Leadership Institute Northwest Youth Corps 4-H International Summer Camps Oregon Envirothon World Forestry Center Discovery Museum Ecology in Classrooms & Outdoors (ECO) Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Alder Creek Community Forest Forest Discovery Trail Education Program-OSU Research Forest

In-Class Programs

Keep Oregon Green Ranger Program Talk About Trees Wood is Good: Forest Sector Career Learning

Teacher Professional Development

Oregon Natural Resources Education Program National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA

Materials for Your Students

Sounds of the Forest Forest Fact Sheet-Carbon and Climate Forest Fact Sheet-Clearcutting Forest Fact Sheet-Drinking Water Forest Fact Sheet-Fire Forest Fact Sheet-Forests Forest Fact Sheet-Woody Biomass Forest Fact Sheet-Ownership Forest Fact Sheet-Photosynthesis Forest Fact Sheet-Protection Laws Forest Fact Sheet-Reforestation Forest Fact Sheet-Wildlife Forest Activity Sheet Find Your Path Forest Essays Grades 2-3 Forest Essays Grades 4-5 Forest Essays Grades 7-12 Forest Essays Grade 6 Into the Forest - For Students Explore the Forest-For Students Oregon Forest Facts 2023-24 Edition Forest Threats Not So Clear-cut Understanding Eastside Forests Oregon Forest Types-Student Page Forest Essays: Spanish for Grades 4-5 En el Bosque (Into the Forest) Life in the Forest: Get to know Oregon's forest wildlife More Than Trees Two Types of Trees Establishing and Managing Forest Trees in Western Oregon Living With Fire

Teaching Resources & Lesson Plans

Where's All The Carbon? (Poster) Oregon's Forests (Poster) Teacher Sampler Packet Grades K-5 K-12 Forest Education Opportunities Into the Forest Teacher's Guide Inside Oregon's Forests: A high school forestry curriculum-updated digital version Teacher Sampler Packet Grades 6-12 Oregon Forest Literacy Plan-Updated 2022 Explore the Forest Teacher's Guide Find Your Path Instruction Guide Oregon's Forests Poster-Instruction Guide Where's All The Carbon? Poster-Instruction Guide Making Forest Connections: A Correlation of the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan With Other Educational Resources Grades 3-5 Making Forest Connections: A Correlation of the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan With Other Educational Resources Grades K-2 Making Forest Connections: A Correlation of the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan With Other Educational Resources Grades 9-12 Making Forest Connections: A Correlation of the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan with Other Educational Resources Making Forest Connections: A Correlation of the Oregon Forest Literacy Plan With Other Educational Resources Grades 6-8 Life in the Forest Instruction Guide Oregon Garden Natural Resources Education Program Lessons Tree Carbon Tape Tree Carbon Tape Instruction Guide Investigate the Forest: Journal Pages for Oregon Outdoor Schools

Videos

Inquiry at Hinkle Creek Forest Fact Break - Reforestation Forest Fact Break - Wildlife Forest Fact Break - Photosynthesis Forest Fact Break - Fire Forest Fact Break - Clearcutting Forest Fact Break-Water Forest Fact Break-Carbon Capture Forest Fact Break-Tree Biology Forest Fact Break-Green Building Forest Fact Break-Forest Management Forest Fact Break-Ecosystems Forest Fact Break-Sustainability Forest Fact Break-Fire Safety Forest Fact Break-Wood Products Forest Fact Break-Forest Types Find Your Path: Wildlife Biologist Find Your Path: Logging Crew Find Your Path: Forest Engineer Find Your Path: Field Forester Find Your Path: Mill Operator Find Your Path: Procurement Forester Find Your Path: Forest Hydrologist Find Your Path: Wildland Firefighter Find Your Path: Seedling Nursery Manager Find Your Path: Recreation Manager Find Your Path: Electrician Find Your Path: Stewardship Forester Find Your Path: Rolling Stock Maintenance Manager Find Your Path: Forestry Teacher Find Your Path: Fish Biologist Oregon's Forests & Water Find Your Path: GIS Specialist Forest Team GO! Fire Among Us Website

BUS TRANSPORTATION

Sidebar Title:
BACKYARD FORESTS

Sidebar Copy:

What are urban forests?
Over 130 million acres of America’s forests are located right in our cities and towns. Urban forests come in many different shapes and sizes. They include urban parks, street trees, gardens, greenways, river corridors, wetlands, nature preserves, you name it.

Even though it may seem like Oregon's forests are "out there," many of the ecosystems and scientific principles of the forest can be found as close as a neighborhood park, or even your own backyard. Get out there and explore!

Forest Learning at Home

SAMPLE ACTIVITY CLUSTERS:

THE AVAILABILITY OF FIELD AND IN-CLASS PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. PLEASE CHECK EACH PROGRAM'S WEBSITE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.

Sidebar Title: BACKYARD FORESTS

Sidebar Title:
BACKYARD FORESTS