OVERVIEW
Since the beginning of time, people have used trees to build shelter, as a source of food, to provide heat and for recreation.
Over time, increasing populations have created an increased demand for forest products. Although trees are a renewable resource, to meet this increased demand people have developed new technologies and new products that increase efficiencies and maximize the productive use of each tree harvested.
LEVELS
Grades 4-5
SUBJECTS
Science
Social Studies
Language Arts
Visual Arts |
CONCEPTS
People use ingenuity and innovation
to make the best use of available resources.
To sustain the availability and use of important resources,
people practice conservation.
Human consumption patterns affect the availability of
resources.
To meet the needs of an expanding human population, societies
practice resource management and employ technology. |
SKILLS
Analyzing
Data Gathering
Discussing
Interpreting
Representing
Researching |
DISCUSSION AND STUDY TOPICS
The use of trees can be studied in the context of many different
areas of learning. Here are some suggestions:
| Science |
| |
What
kinds of fiber other than wood can be used to make paper?
(class experiment, research project) |
| |
Is
wood a good conductor of heat? Do different types of wood
give off different amounts of heat? Why? Which types of
wood are the best to burn for heat? (research project,
class presentation) |
|
|
How are different types of trees
regenerated? How does climate affect tree growth?
(research project, class presentation) |
|
|
What
is the difference between a renewable and a non-renewable
resource? What are some examples of each? What renewable
and non-renewable resources do we use every day? (research
project, class activity, class presentation) |
| Social Studies |
|
|
How
has the use of wood changed through history? How do people
use wood in other parts of the world -- for fuel, for
shelter, to create art? (essay topic, art project,
research project) |
|
|
What products have you used today
that are made from wood, wood fiber or wood chemicals?
What forest products are present in the classroom, at
home? (essay topic, class presentation, class activity)
|
| |
Activity Sheets
"A Way With Words"
How many words can you make out of Educational in Nature?
For example: LATE or CLEAN
Word Scramble
Unscramble each group of letters to find different ways trees are used.
1. dofo
2. lrtehes
3. ppera
4. urmebl
5. notceerira
6. ttonronrsptaia
7. lfeu
8. nlgchoti
9. otosl
10. odlpyow
Answers to Word Scramble: 1. food 2. shelter 3. paper 4. lumber 5. recreation 6. transportation 7. fuel 8. clothing 9. tools 10. plywood
|
In addition to providing beauty and recreation, forests supply
raw materials to help meet society’s needs for housing,
paper, containers and thousands of other products used by consumers
every day. As one of the country’s leading forest products
providers, Georgia-Pacific
Corporation has a long-term
interest in and commitment to the health of our nation’s
forests.
|
|
