How to use this resource...

Our Forest, Our Future helps teachers and pupils to explore the interdependence of people and forests and the vital role forests play in sustaining our environment – in the past, the present and hopefully the future.

The Scots Pine forests in Scotland and the Congo Basin rainforest in Africa provide case studies through which pupils will begin to understand why our forests are under threat and the implications for our planet. Further information about these forests is provided in the following documents.

In making connections between consumerism, people and the environment, pupils will be encouraged to see how they and their actions have an impact on the lives of others globally. It encourages reflection on the possible futures of the world's forests and ways of taking positive actions for a future where people and forests co-exist in a sustainable way.

The resource is structured around a global citizenship framework devised by Oxfam.

The reflection and evaluation sections in each activity support formative assessment and ongoing monitoring of pupils learning.

Additional assessment opportunities are indicated by...

Outdoor learning opportunities are indicated by...

Homework activities are indicated by...

Taking Action for Change

Education for Global Citizenship is committed to enabling pupils to bring about positive actions for change either locally or globally. This process should support pupils to make their own informed choices through a critical evaluation of the options open to them and the possible implications of those choices.

Throughout the resource there are ideas for possible actions, such as reflecting on our power as consumers, peer education and tree planting. Your pupils themselves should be encouraged to think creatively about the many actions they could take, critically evaluate the impact these actions might have and then evaluate what they have done.

The materials below support your pupils through this process.

> Asking questions

2. Exploring Issues: an enquiry approach

What you need:

Forest clearance causes [ppt]
A variety of worksheets see links below

Aims

To enquire into the main features of a chosen issue and its causes, effects and possible solutions

To develop enquiry skills

To further investigate reasons for global forest clearance

What to do

Show pupils the PowerPoint Forest clearance causes and explain that you would like small groups to select an issue taking an enquiry approach to exploring the causes, effects and any possible solutions to the problem. Encourage the pupils to make connections as to how they might be linked to the issue. The groups should then think of an interesting way to present their research to the class, which should encourage their peers to think and reflect on the issues.

There are various frameworks below which can help facilitate the pupils' enquiry, the groups should complete an activity for each stage:

Stage 1 Activities to support an enquiry into the issue:
Route finder [pdf]
Research mind map [pdf]
Research matrix [pdf]

Stage 2 Activities for reflecting on the information:
Supported internet search [pdf]
Different view points [pdf]

Stage 3 Activities for presenting the research findings:
Research frame [pdf]
Issues tree [pdf]

Reflection and evaluation

Peer evaluation - After each group has made their presentation, the other groups have to make a note of one idea they liked, one point that needs clarification and one area that could be improved on. Each group can then give their feedback after the presentation.

Group reflection: How well did we work together?

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4