A Race To Land Policy Knowledge

Name of lesson: Land Policy
Introduction: Draw a picture/write your favorite place to be outside (where is it? public vs. private land)
Three outcomes projected from lesson, and tactics used to achieve those outcomes:
1) A better understanding of land policy and management
2) To be able to better distinguish different parcels of land (e.g.- national forests vs. national park)
3) For each student to take away one concrete point from the lesson and to apply it to their lifestyle
Three goals as an educator, you hope to gain from this lesson:
1) Integration of past lessons (ESA, Wilderness Act)/ continuum of environmental knowledge
2) Teach students the fundamentals of land policy and use.
3) To be able to achieve an educational experience through a fun physical activity such as dog sledding
Materials needed: cardboard to draw pictures on outside, paper, crayons, 3 bags, 3 notebooks, 20 questions
Safety considerations: weather, running game (set different destinations for each group so there is no pushing)
Environmental concerns: cold weather/snow. Not leaving any materials outside.

Class content: (flow= interchangeable “stations” because kids will be dog sledding/ kids separated into two groups, Rob takes one group, Erin takes the other)
-draw picture of your favorite place to be outside
-discussion of land policy & integration of other lessons
-draw/write own land policy for Van Tuyl Ranch.
-“Race to land policy knowledge” game!

Objectives for three target audience:
-Supersize kids: broad understanding of different land management uses and policies as well as how to apply them to a parcel of land (e.g.- Van Tuyl Ranch- pictures with written description of land policy)
-Middlin Meddlers: To have an understanding of different land management areas and uses. & draw who they would manage land.
-Tiny Club: Understand that there is a difference between different parcels of land. As well as creating their own form of land management.
Field trip opportunities: Going dog sledding with the class!!
Duration: 2 hours!
Methods of assessment: “Race to land policy knowledge game”
Intrapersonal and visual (pictures); kinesthetic (running quiz game)

Our land policy lesson was held outside while the students were dog sledding. Students would interchange groups from dog sledding to coloring or discussion. We were able to reuse cardboard for a drawing station, which the student colored their favorite spot and we discussed the land management of the area. We had lunch and a discussion of the United States Land Policies. After the information was giving, we held an activity which is called a race to land policy. There are three teams, split evenly, each group has a notebook, a pen, and a student that is designated as the runner (some students like to switch off this role). The question is asked and the first group to correctly answer the question, write it down on a piece of paper and run it to the teams designated re-usable bag, gets three points, the second team gets two points and the final team gets one point. The team with the most correct answers and highest points wins.

The students are able to use each other as resources and work together, while actively learning. I feel that this lesson could be used to teach any subject, and is more beneficial to teach environmental concepts outside.

"I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own." - Andy Warhol