Boom and bust in the Ozark forests

In this lesson students will learn about a human activity that had a major affect on the natural landscape in the Ozark Plateau Natural Division—the removal of the deciduous forests that occurred by the end of the nineteenth century. They will compare the Ozark deforestation with the removal of Truffula trees and associated ecological events in the story of The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. Students will also analyze the timber “boom and bust” of the early 1900’s and learn about federal and state agencies that exist to prevent such environmental catastrophes from occurring again.

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies

Grade Level: 5-8 Middle School

Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education. The frameworks used in the majority of lesson plans on the Arkansas History Hub are from the 2006 Social Studies Frameworks and the 2007 Arkansas History Amendments and School Library Media Frameworks.

EA.2., EA.2.AH.7-8.2, EA.2.AH.7-8.5, EA.3.AH.7-8.1, G.1.5.2, G.1.6.2, G.1.AH.7-8.1, G.1.AH.7-8.2, G.1.AH.7-8.3, G.1.AH.7-8.5, G.1.AH.9-12.1, G.1.AH.9-12.2, G.1.AH.9-12.3, G.1.AH.9-12.4, G.1.AH.9-12.5, G.3.5.7, G.3.6.1, G.3.6.7, RP.6.AH.7-8.3