Lesson Plan #:AELP-AGR0002

The Importance of Trees in the Rural Area: Planting a Snowfence

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Author: Wilma Jean Lunt, Parkview Elem., Lamar, CO

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Subject(s):

Overview:

Trees can play an important role in rural areas. As a living snowfence, trees can protect roads and highways as well as provide habitat cover for wildlife and protection for livestock. This activity gives students hands-on experience in planting trees as well as being involved in area projects.

Purpose:

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate the importance of trees in rural areas through the planting of a living snowfence.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

  1. Explain the importance of a living snowfence in a rural setting.

  2. Sequence the steps in planting trees for a living snowfence.

  3. Exhibit the ability to work in a group.

  4. Demonstrate the proper way to plant a living snowfence.

Resources/Materials:

"The Living Tree" brochure from Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, "Project Learning Tree Activity Guide", county extension agent or forest service personnel, slides from county extension agent, materials for planting trees

Activities and Procedures:

  1. Have the students brainstorm ways trees can be useful in rural areas.

  2. Invite an extension agent or person from the forest service to talk about the importance of trees in rural areas.

  3. Use slides to illustrate the use of trees as a living snowfence.

  4. Use math activities to figure how many trees it will take for the project. Figure how far from the highway the trees will need to be planted to keep the snow off the road. Predict the percentage of trees that will survive.

  5. Take a class field trip to the area that the living snowfence is to be planted. Using the team approach actually plant the trees. (We have planted two snowfences along a highway for ranchers and have also planted trees for the new county landfill.)

  6. After returning to the classroom, use writing activities to highlight the experience.

Tying it All Together

This activity has sparked interest in the students as to how trees can be of importance to our school playground. It has been an excellent way to work with area ranchers and county officials. One student developed an interest in what it takes to become a "tree city USA.