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Learning Outcomes
Students will become familiar with fire terminology, realize how fire
can be used as a management tool, and better understand the factors
that need to be considered when planning a prescribed burn.
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Summary
In this activity the students will form opinions around fire management
issues. They will then work in small groups to get more information
around the issues and make a more informed decision.
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Activity Information
- Grade level: intermediate
- Subject: english, geography science
- Skills: problem solving, critical analysis, decision making
- Duration: one hour
- Group Size: any size
- Setting: indoors
- Materials: four index cards for each student, copies of the background
information sheets, coloured markers
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Background
The following questions are designed to help students understand and
explain different types of human perspectives related to fire management
issues. They will formulate informed judgments about what they think
would be the most responsible and appropriate actions to take. There
are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers. Teachers are encouraged to have students
do additional research so that decisions are based on the best factual
information available.
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Activity
A. The original opinions
1. Give each student a coloured marker and four index cards. Have the
students write a letter on each card (A- D) which will correspond to
the opinions listed below. On the board write the following information:
- A - Definite NO
- B - Uncertain NO
- C - Uncertain YES
- D - Definite YES
2. Read aloud each "Survey Question'to the entire class. Ask students
to think about the question and choose an "opinion letter.'When the
class is ready, have students hold up their index cards with the letter
facing you. For each question, tally the results and record the number
of students choosing each of the four opinions on' the board. Ask several
students why they chose the opinion they did. (You may choose to have
the students make bar graphs representing the class's original opinion
for each question)
Survey Questions:
- Question #1 Should fires in the forest, both natural and human-caused,
be put out?
- Question #2 Is prescribed burning a good idea?
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B. The Informed Decisions
- Divide the class into four groups (two for each survey question).
Give each group a copy of the Background Information Sheet for their
question.
- Groups are to read their Background Information Sheet. Students
may further research newspaper and magazine articles or talk to local
experts and fire agency people. After considering all the information
and sides of the issue, the group will then formulate an informed
group decision. Have students use the tables to summarize the information
they collect on the question.
- Have each group present their findings and their informed decision
to the class. The class is encouraged to ask questions. After each
group's presentation, each student in the class will make their own
informed decision about the question. Have the students hold up an
index card containing the letter corresponding to their decision.
The class-informed decision is tallied and new bar graphs may be drawn.
- How many students changed their opinion after they learned more
about the issue? Discuss with students why their opinions may have
changed.
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Discussion
Compare the original opinions and informed decisions. Discuss the importance
of learning about all sides of an issue before making a decision or
forming an opinion. Opinions and decisions are based on available information,
which may or may not be complete or accurate. How can the public get
the information they need to make informed decisions? Discuss the need
to be open to new information.
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Evaluation
Have students create an informational brochure which explains prescribed
burns, giving examples of where fire might be used as a management tool
and listing factors which might affect the use of fire as a tool. Have
students do the Fire Vocabulary exercise.
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Resources
- Focus on Forests, Intermediate/Senior, Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources
- Wildfires: Should we let them burn or put them out?, National Geographic
World, v (177), May, 1990 pg. 10
- Wildfire: it's a hot topic, National Geographic World, v (169),
Sept. 1989 pp. 26-31 The Book of Fire, by William H. Cottrell Jr.;
ISBN 0-87842-255-2
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