The curricula resources below focus on the fire ecology of the Ozark Highlands ecoregion. While some of the lessons in this curriculum are more specific to this ecoregion, others are appropriate for many other regions.
The goal of these curricula is to provide high school students with unique learning opportunities that align with nationally recognized standards or expectations. Using the Next Generation Science Standards [NGSS] as a guide, these resources allow instructors to meet educational goals as students investigate natural phenomena. The framework employed for lesson development is the three dimensions of science learning that are integrated into NGSS. Each lesson reflects components of these three dimensions: 1) Science and Engineering Practices; 2) Disciplinary Core Ideas; and 3) Crosscutting Concepts.
These lessons are modeled after the Northern Rocky Mountains & Northern Cascade Curriculum offered by the FireWorks Education Program.
Each lesson includes:
- lesson plan
- slideshow presentation (with script)
- step-by-step instructions
- student quiz (and key) **email oakfirescience@gmail.com for the quiz keys**
Educators can download and customize all resources to their specific classroom and regional needs!
Lesson 1: Introduction to fire ecology of the Ozark Highlands ecoregion
Lesson 2: The heat plume of a fire
Lesson 3: The fire triangle (part 1)
Lesson 4: The fire triangle (part 2)
Lesson 5: The Tree Model
Lesson 6: Fire behavior in the Ozark Highlands (matchstick model)
Lesson 7: Bark & soil – Insulative property model
Lesson 8: Smoke in the Ozark Highlands
Lesson 9: Fire and biodiversity
Lesson 10: Introduction to dendrochronology / fire history
research
