Urban Guide Lesson 4: Issues and Action in the Urban Forest
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Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education|Published on: July 16, 2026
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
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Synopsis
- This 75-minute lesson has students discuss the meaning of stewardship and investigate urban forest issues such as tree canopy loss, emerald ash borer, invasive species, tree and utility conflicts, soil compaction, and the heat island effect.
- Working in groups, students research an assigned issue and create an action plan proposing how their class, school, or community could help address it, then present their plans and choose one to potentially pursue.
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
Authors: LEAF Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education
Region: Wisconsin
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Classroom Implementation:
- This is the fourth of four LEAF 9-12 Urban Forest Lessons and can serve as a capstone; the action-plan activity lends itself to inviting administrators, school board members, or community organizations to hear student presentations.
- Assign each group a different urban forest issue and note that some issues are examined from how they affect the forest and others from how the forest affects the issue.
- Research can be assigned as homework if class time is limited, and students may present findings as a slideshow, poster, or brochure.
Extensions:
- Structure the post-presentation discussion (step 4) around concrete criteria (ease of implementation, number of people impacted, scale of impact) so the class vote on which issue to pursue feels evidence-based rather than arbitrary.
- Ask students to calculate a rough cost estimate for their proposed action plan and pitch it as a budget request to a school or community stakeholder.
This lesson discusses the problems urban forests can face, as well as potential actions people can take to address them. Topics include invasive species, climate change, disease, soil compaction, utility interactions, and canopy loss. The lesson encourages students to see themselves as stewards of urban forests, which can help them connect with and care for the environment around them. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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