Farm Forestry - Trees at Work - Section 1B Finding out about trees and how they affect me

Activity 1e: Working trees

As a precursor to investigating careers with trees, students are introduced to the many steps involved in growing trees for timber in a farm plantation.

Materials

• Information sheet 1e: Working trees
• Worksheet 1e: Working trees
• References on timber production (from school library and/or internet)

Classroom activity

Presenting the Cycle

1. Divide the class into pairs or threes and assign a team to each of the steps shown in Information sheet 1e: Working trees 
2. Each team researches their step in the timber production cycle and prepares a short presentation to explain what is involved in their stage of the cycle.
3. Each team delivers their presentation to the class, in the sequence from seed to timber product.

Photographing the Cycle

4. Divide the class into small teams and provide each team with a copy of Worksheet 1e.
5. Each team arranges the photographs to show the correct sequence from seedling to timber product.
   However there is not a complete set of photographs. Students will need to create their own diagram to represent steps for which no photograph is provided (or write the missing step onto a card) and include these in the sequence they compile.
   

Summary

4. As a whole class, compare the team’s results. As a summary, discuss that many steps, tasks, equipment and people are involved in the growing and production of timber. It is a renewable cycle, but can take 10 to 100 years before the timber can be harvested.

Sample Reference
DSE Forestry site www.dse.vic.gov.au > Forestry > Education

Information Sheet 1e: Working Trees

Tree cycle

Diagram adapted from SA Forestry Matters!

Match the following photographs to one of the following steps in the tree growing - wood production cycle.

Note that there is not necessarily a photograph for each step.

You will need to create your own diagram to represent any steps for which no photograph is provided (or write the missing step onto a card).

Arrange the photos and your cards to show the sequence of seed to timber/wood product.

Activity 1f: Careers with Trees

Statewide Activity

Students investigate a range of careers related to working with trees.

Materials

• Worksheet 1f: Careers with trees or timber

Classroom activity

Internet Search

1. Students use the internet (websites such as Careers That Go - see below) to find out about careers involving the growing or maintenance of trees, the harvesting and processing trees into timber, and/or the use of timber to make and sell a range of products.
2. Do any of these careers appeal to them? What aspect of the career/job appeals to them?
3. Sample Website

   Careers That Go www.careersthatgo.com.au > Careers > Find A Career Examples on this website include:

   • Nursery worker
   • Forest technical officer
   • Farm Manager
   • Forester
   • Carpenter

Interviewing local people working with timber

2. Invite a local person(s) to speak to the class about their career with timber. Provide a copy of the questions to the person in advance of their talk to the class.
   
   Examples of people with tree or timber related careers
   
   
3. 1. Nursery person   
   2. Tree planter   
   3. Tree pruner   
   4. Tree harvester   
   5. Aboriculturalist   
   6. Forestry worker   
   7. Plantation company worker   
   8. Mill worker   
   9. Portable sawmill operator   
   10. Timber salesperson
       
   11. Carpenter
       
   12. Carpentry apprentice
       
   13. Farmer
       
   14. Farm forestry extension officer (with Department of Primary Industries)   
   15. Farm forestry network representative 
   16. Paper recycling company worker
       
   17. Furniture salesperson
       
   18. Craftsperson working with wood
       
   19. Architec

Worksheet 1f: Careers Involving Trees or Timber