From Beneath the Ashes
Description of the Unabridged From Beneath the Ashes Teachers
Guide
From Beneath the Ashes is a program that describes the impact of
the Yellowstone fires of 1985, and compares the role of fire in a forest
to that on a prairie. The Chicago Academy of Sciences uses this tape as
an opportunity to explore various natural occurrences related to fires in
these environments. Prairies are given special attention in this curriculum
because of the recent concern for this endangered habitat in Illinois, the
"Prairie State."
The activities in the unabridged Teachers Guide are arranged in 7 lessons:
Lesson 1: Fire at Yellowstone
Students identify both the positive and negative effects of forest fires,
and view the first part of the video to begin to understand its role in
maintaining the forest ecosystem.
Lesson 2: Forest Succession and the Mosaic Pattern
Students learn about the differential pattern of growth within a forest
and play a game to illustrate this "mosaic" pattern.
Lesson 3: Fire on the Prairie
Students view the second half of the video in order to compare the role
of fire in a forest to that on a prairie. They begin to understand the special
adaptations of prairie plants and animals that enable them to withstand
fire.
Lesson 4: Prairie Field Notes
Students construct their own Prairie Field Notes booklets in preparation
for the field trip to the Chicago Academy of Sciences. This booklet will
highlight different plants and animals of the prairie.
Lesson 5: Field Trip to the Chicago Academy of Sciences
Students gather data on the adaptations of prairie plants and animals and
record the information in their Prairie Field Notes. This experience reinforces
their understanding of adaptations and the role of fire.
Lesson 6: Help Wanted - Scientists
Students closely examine some of the careers highlighted in the video as
well as other science-related jobs. By writing help-wanted ads, they learn
the requirements for various careers in science.
Lesson 7: To Burn or Not to Burn?
Students incorporate all the information they have learned about the role
of fire to prepare an outline of an article about the fires of Yellowstone.
Finally, students are asked to write a persuasive composition using the
question "To Burn or Not to Burn?"
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