Lesson Plans

The Curriculum Development Project

This programming was created in partnership with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and is aligned with the Nova Scotia curriculum for each grade level. Our lesson plans are primarily related to the science and physical education curriculum. There are three grade specific, curriculum linked lessons for teachers to choose from that can be led by our staff on the day of their visit, as well as supplementary lesson plans for teachers to use before and after a visit to forest school. These lessons will provide students with a connection between their classroom and forest school experience.

Climate Change Workshop Action Plan Ideas and Post-Visit Lesson Plans

With further support of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for The Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth, we were able to offer FREE workshops delivered directly in classrooms to grades p-9 in the winter and spring of 2024. As a follow-up to these workshops, we’ve created a list of Action Plan ideas and 4 post-visit lesson plans. These plans can be used without having received a workshop from us, providing the teacher creates their own introduction to climate change.

Grade Primary Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Primary I – Physical Science: Movement Centres

    • Learners will test movement of objects
    • 45-60 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Primary II – Life Science: Hug a Tree

    • Learners will compare living things through the senses
    • 20-30 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Primary III – Physical Science: Sand and Water

    • Learners will investigate sand and water through the senses
    • 60-70 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 1 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade One I – Earth and Space Science: Seasonal Change

    • Learners will analyse daily and seasonal change in the environment
    • 60-90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade One II – Physical Science: Sewage Spill Water Filters

    • Learners will construct a device in response to a problem
    • 60-90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade One III – Life Science: Bio-Blitz

    • Learners will analyse interconnectedness of living things and the environment
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 2 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Two I – Earth and Space Science: A River Ran Wild

    • Learners will analyse the interconnectiveness of air and water in the environment, inclusive of a Mi’kmaw perspective.
    • 90-120 minutes
    • Download PDF
  • Grade Two II – Life Science: A Hemlock’s Life

    • Learners will analyse the relationship between animal growth and the environment.
    • 60 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Two III – Physical Science: Build a Boat!

    • Learners will analyse the relationship between animal growth and the environment.
    • 60 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 3 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Three I – Physical Science: Bridge Builders

    • Learners will construct a structure in response to a design challenge.
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Three II – Earth and Space Science: Sweet Soil

    • Learners will analyze soil in the environment.
    • 90-120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Three III – Life Science: Hemlock Crime Scene Investigation

    • Learners will investigate plants in the environment
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 4 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Four I – Earth and Space Science: Fossils and Rocks

    • Learners will analyze rocks, minerals, and fossils in the local environment.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Four II – Earth and Space Science: Mountain Movers

    • Learners will investigate how the Earth’s surface changes over time.
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grad Four III – Life Science: Habitat – Who lives Here?

    • Learners will investigate a variety of local natural habitats.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 5 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Five I – Physical Science: Fire starting / Charcoal Making

    • Learners will construct effective simple and compound machines.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Five II – Physical Science: Mission: Marshmallows!!

    • Learners will construct effective simple and compound machines.
    • 90-120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Five III – Earth and Space Science: Shelter Building

    • Learners will investigate how weather impacts daily life and construct shelters with found natural materials.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 6 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Six I – Electricity: Passive Solar Shelters

    • Learners will make survival shelters using found natural materials with a focus on capturing solar energy to keep warm.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Six II – Flight: Egg Drop

    • Learners will use found natural materials to make an egg protector to cushion the impact of dropping an egg off of a controlled height and evaluate factors that influence the outcome.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Six III – Diversity: Eco-Zone Bio-Blitz

    • Learners will analyze diversity of life in nature and significant relationships within the natural world using a teeter totter or balance scale for effect.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 7 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Seven I – Geological Evolution: Mountain Movers

    • Learners will analyse how geographic features are formed and changed.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Seven II – Engineering Structures: Tallest Tower

    • Learners will test the strength and efficiency of shapes and materials used in construction.
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Seven III – Engineering Structures: Mission Marshmallow

    • Learners will construct a structure in response to a design challenge
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 8 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Eight I – Healthy Cells/Healthy Systems: Clear cut Bio-Blitz

    • Learners will observe and compare connections between our gut health and forest health.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Eight II – Climate Change: Passive Solar Shelters

    • Learners will use found natural materials to make survival shelters with a focus on capturing solar energy to keep warm.
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Eight III – Climate Change: Hot Rocks!

    • Learners will create a model that demonstrates the principles of kinetic molecular theory.
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 9 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Nine I – Healthy Living: Self Check-in

    • Learners will practise self check-ins while navigating a wellness retreat day in the forest.
    • Full Day
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Nine II – Visual Arts: Forest Sculptures

    • Learners will be introduced to living bridges, silent sit spots, and create a forest art installation
    • Full Day
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Nine III – Electricity, Energy, & the Environment: Passive Solar Shelters/Cookers

    • Learners will build passive solar shelters using compass point knowledge and natural materials, as well as cook with solar energy.
    • 120 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 10 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Ten I – Physical Education: Injured Hiker Expedition

    • Learners will plan and complete an expedition that simulate the difficulties and struggles of having a group member hurt, sick or worse.
    • 180 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Ten II – Physical Education: Bushcraft Skills

    • Learners will learn essential requirements and materials for both fire making and shelter building.
    • Full Day
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Ten III – Science: Weather Dynamics

    • Learners will plan and complete an expedition that meets a set criteria for a successful hike: weather, temperature, sun exposure, wind direction, orientation to compass points for solar gain/mitigation; level of clothing students are wearing etc.
    • Full Day
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan:Download PDF

Grade 11 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Eleven I – Biology 11: Photosynthesis and Respiration

    • Why don’t trees grow in perfect circles? Learners will be presented with a variety of crosscuts to explore, make inferences, and organize in a chart.
    • 90 minutes
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Eleven II – Boiology 11: Literature Search and Report on Mental Health

    • Can forest therapy enhance health and wellbeing? Learners will do a series of heart rate checks throughout the day while hiking, during silent sit spots, cooking, art, and active games.
    • Full day
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Eleven III – Geography 11: Patterns of Development

    • Using knowledge of life necessities and topographical maps, learners will design a detailed settlement plan on the PCFS site.
    • Full day
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Grade 12 Lesson Plans

  • Pre-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

  • Grade Twelve I – Physical Education Leadership: Hiker Down

    • Learners will plan and execute an extended hike, with physical and mechanical limitations placed on them.
    • 180+ minutes
    • Download PDF
  • Grade Twelve II – Advanced Global Geography: Global Village

    • Learners will have the opportunity to think creatively about community building, thrift, barter, exploitation, and ultimately power, as they receive resources in an inequitable manner to build a shelter and make a simple pine needle tea.
    • Full Day
    • Download PDF

  • Grade Twelve III – Advanced Music: Forest Orchestra

    • An open inquiry for learners to experiment, take risks, and to begin to see, hear and appreciate that the potential for music surrounds us all the time.
    • Full day
    • Download PDF

  • Post-Visit Lesson Plan: Download PDF

Climate Change Action Plan Ideas

  • Download PDF

  • CLASSROOM DRAW: If your class completes one of the ideas offered above or creates their own, they’ll be entered into a draw for one of several group prizes.

  • BONUS TEACHER’S DRAW: If your class completes one of the ideas offered above or creates their own, you’ll personally be entered into a second draw for an individual bonus prize!
  • Action plans must be completed and proof submitted by June 16th, 2024. Both draws will take place on June 17th, 2024. To enter, please email mayaPCFS@gmail.com

Climate Change Workshop Post-Visit Lesson Plans

  • Animal Tracks Carbon Footprints

    • Learners will consider the carbon footprint of animals as well as humans.
    • Elementary-Middle School
    • Download PDF

  • Schoolyard Woodland

    • Learners will identify trees in their schoolyard that are helpful to climate change adaptation.
    • Middle School
    • Download PDF
  • Milk Jug Greenhouse & Butterfly Garden

    • Learners will create greenhouses and ultimately outdoor gardens.
    • Elementary-Middle School
    • Download PDF
  • Climate Change Compass

    • Learners will explore climate change “symptoms”.
    • Middle School
    • Download PDF