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?Sounds of the Forest cover
(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 Screencap Tree TypesForest Fact Break: Forest TypesThis 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 coverExplore 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 GuideThis 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 coverLife 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 Screencap AForest 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.

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