Exploring Hawaii's Forests
A Hands-on Guide to Hawaii’s Forest
Click on the lessons to the left to download curriculum in individual sections.
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Purpose:
- How the forests of Hawai‘i are physically and biologically structured.
- The organisms make up Hawai‘i’s forests and how they interact with each other and their environment.
- How science and conservation are working together to study the Hawai‘i’s forest and manage the resources within the habitat.
Rationale: Hawai‘i’s forest ecosystems are very diverse; this can be attributed to the amount of rainfall that falls in an area and the elevation in which it is found. These ecosystems provide a habitat for a menagerie of plant and animal species, as well as, support the lifestyle and culture of island residents. This curriculum promotes an enhanced understanding within Hawaii’s youth on how Hawai‘i’s forest ecosystems function, the problems that they face, and how we can care for them. This unit includes hands-on, inquiry-based lessons and activities to promote and enhanced learning about Hawai‘i’s forest ecosystems.
This unit was created by Anya Tagawa,
Donna Foster, and Lurl Agbayani.