Bureau of Land Management firefighters look over a wildfire near Colorado Springs, CO.
National Interagency Fire Center, CC 0
Pathway Summary
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
This pathway on wildfires begins with students sharing their experiences with wildfires. They examine images, news stories, and data about wildfires. They also reflect on some potential benefits and harms of forest fires. Students then examine a case about a local forest fire and the state of its recovery. Students find that some forests recover quickly after a forest fire, while others recover more slowly. They use the information they examined to develop an initial model to figure out why some forests recover faster than others after a fire.
Investigate lessons
Through several investigations, students explore fire-adapted species in the Colorado forests and how these species respond differently to low-severity versus high-severity fire. They examine climate data that reveals changing temperature and precipitation patterns leading to less-than-ideal conditions for forest recovery after fires. Students also investigate how the change in plant populations after fires influences animal populations.
Synthesize lesson
In a Synthesize lesson, students use everything they’ve figured out to develop a final model to explain why low severity fires can be healthy for forests, but why high severity fires, combined with unusual climate conditions, can change forests after a fire. They navigate into the base unit knowing that it’s getting warmer with less precipitation and that is affecting forest recovery after large wildfires. They wonder 1) why is it getting warmer? and ) is it getting warmer in other places too?
Culminating task
The culminating task in this unit aims to make students aware of efforts to prevent high-severity wildfires from occurring and recovery efforts after forest fires, particularly in the local context. Students create different communication projects to educate members of their school and community about these efforts and how people in Colorado Springs can prevent and respond to wildfires.
Phenomenon
Some forests recover quickly after fires while others recover more slowly.
Community
Colorado Springs is a small city of half a million people located in the intermountain west. It is situated near mountain forests at the base of Pikes Peak. It has a semi-arid climate and is receiving less precipitation over time. The community has been threatened by large fires in recent decades (Hayman fire, Waldo Canyon fire, and the Black Forest fire). Students in the community can still see scars from the Waldo Canyon fire. The community often deals with poor air quality from wildfire smoke.
Materials Available
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
3 Investigate lessons
1 Synthesize lesson
1 Culminating task
Key Features
Urban
Near mountains
Family connection
Educator Insight
Teacher: Gina Foss
Why I chose this phenomenon
In Colorado wildfires are burning more intensely and the fire season is starting earlier and lasting longer. The economy, recreation and health are affected. No BBQs, camp fires, and hiking due to the risk of harming health or igniting a fire. Students have noticed the poor air quality in the spring and summer seems to last longer due to surrounding fires. For this reason I think all students will recognize that is a current and relevant topic. Other students in Colorado and surrounding states will be sensitive to this topic if they have been displaced due to fires. The term, "megafire", may catch student interest, looking at contributing factors to fires becoming larger and spreading faster than what has been the case historically could draw them in. If students take any sort of road trip around Colorado, into the mountains they will notice evidence of bark beetle outbreaks which can increase the intensity of the fire. I think this would be another dimension to bring in to catch student interest.
How my students responded
Students readily participated in sharing stories around fires. Stories regarding forest recovery were not as readily shared or experienced so an area where they knew less about the phenomenon.
