CareerZone Lesson Plan Registry http://www.nycareerzone.org/resources/lessonplans

Fighting Forest Fires

Author(s): The CareerZone Team

Grades: 6 - 8

Subject: Career Development and Occupational Studies

Learning Context: Students will: 1. Gain knowledge about forest fires in our environment. (ELA 1), (SS 2) 2. Observe a presentation about forest firefighters and other related occupations using CareerZone. (ELA 1), (CDOS 1), (MST 2) 3. Observe a website to research current forest fires. (ELA 1), (MST 2) 4. Compare and contrast forest firefighters with city firefighters using a Venn Diagram. (ELA 1,3), (CDOS 1) 5. Discuss 3 new and important facts they learned about forest firefighters. (ELA 4), (SS 3), (CDOS 1,2)

Procedure: (This lesson can be used when discussing community occupations, such as police officers and firefighters. Students can compare city firefighters with forest firefighters. Also, this lesson can be used as a current events activity.) 1. The teacher will open the lesson by asking the students what types of jobs involve putting ones life on the line. Some responses may be: police officer, racecar driver, animal trainer, firefighter, etc. 2. After listening to several responses, the teacher will explain that many occupations involve danger. The teacher will ask the students why they believe people have such dangerous jobs. Some responses may be: the jobs are fun, challenging, rewarding. 3. The teacher will ask the class what they believe are the duties and dangers of their local firefighters. 4. Next, the teacher will explain to the class that they are going to learn about a type of firefighter - forest firefighters. 5. The teacher will ask the class if they have heard about any forest fires recently or in the past. Students can share their responses. 6. After the class discussion, the teacher will show an Internet presentation called "Fire Call: A Wildland Firefighter Speaks Out" (www.nationalgeographic.com/firecall/). This is about forest firefighters in the Boise National Forest. 7. The students can discuss what they thought of the presentation and what they thought about the duties of forest firefighters. 8. The teacher will now go to www.nycareerzone.org to show the class more about forest firefighters and other related careers. 9. The teacher will explain to the students that there are forest fires happening everyday and men and women are fighting them everyday. 10. The teacher will go to a website to check current fires and their locations (www.nife.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf). 11. As a large group, the teacher will now have the students complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting local city firefighters with forest firefighters. Students should use the information from the Internet presentation and CareerZone to complete the diagram. 12. To close the activity, the students can discuss 3 new and important facts they learned about forest firefighters.

Instructional/Environmental Modifications:

Materials and Supplies: 1. A computer with a projection device for the whole class to view the Internet. 2. Chalkboard, poster board, etc. for Venn Diagram

Time Required: This lesson should last approximately 50 minutes.

Assessment Tools and Techniques: 1. Did the students participate in class discussion? 2. Did the students demonstrate good listening skills during the Internet presentation? 3. Were the students able to compare and contrast city firefighters with forest firefighters? 4. Did the students discuss 3 new important facts they learned about firefighters? 5. What could be changed and/or added?

Reflections: Possible expansion activities: The teacher could have students research other environmental related current events and also research the occupations that are involved. Another activity could be for the students to research other "dangerous" yet rewarding occupations. Also, students could research the effects that the forest fires have on the environment.