Each team’s task is to design the layers of the forest, from below

ground level to the tallest trees, including as many of the ideas listed on the

board as possible. When finished, connect the strips together to form one

large mural and have each team describe its section. Discuss any additions

or changes that need to be made.

Outdoor Variation: In a forested area (or patch of trees if need be),

divide students into four groups. Each team is assigned a forest layer and

given a 3” x 5” card. Instruct each group to investigate its layer (being careful

not to disturb plants and animals) and write significant characteristics on

the card. Back inside, or using picnic rabies, give each group a large piece

of butcher paper and have students recreate their forest layer. When all

groups are finished, display the pieces of paper together as one large mural

of the forest.

Who Lives in the Forest? Using the mural, introduce the names

of the four layers of a forest. (See background information.) Explain that

animals usually live within one of these layers.

Distribute Washington Animals information cards. (Several students

wifi have the same animal.) Every student is to read the information and cut

out the picture. For each animal, students share what they have learned and

discuss where to glue the animal pictures on the mural.

Describe Where Forest Animals Live: Look at the Washington

Forest Poster provided with this activity guide. With students, identify

animals and forest habitat layers where they seem to be foraging. Write this

starter sentence on the board: “A Steller’s jay flew.” Encourage students

to practice their powers of observation and description by expanding the

sentence with descriptive phrases based on the poster. (In this activity only

one “and” may be added to the sentence.) combine several sentences, then

tell students to expand one on theft own and perhaps illustrate it.

Example of starter sentence:

“A Steller’s jay flew.”

Example of expanded sentence:

“A bright blue Steller’s jay flew swiftly, like a colorful

streak, through the understory in search of fat seeds

and startled a furry, brown rabbit who had stopped to

nibble a juicy fern on the quiet forest floor.”