K-12 Teacher Guide

The Greatest Good,
a Forest Service Centennial Film

The U.S. Forest Service is the federal agency that since 1905 has managed America's public forests and grasslands. During its long history it has faced many challenges in working with both nature and people.

The Greatest Good film was produced by the Forest Service in honor of its Centennial celebration in 2005 and provides an in-depth look at natural resource management during the 20th century. The use of this film in a classroom offers an ideal way for students to study many related issues such as forest conservation, the role of fire in our society, wildlife protection, human impacts on the environment, and environmental decision-making in a democracy.

This guide offers K-12 educators suggestions for incorporating age-appropriate portions of the film and its bonus materials into the social studies, science, math, and civics classroom. There are also links to complementary activities and lessons from many different organizations.

• Grades K-2 - Lesson Plans & Discussion Ideas
• Grades 3-5 - Lesson Plans & Discussion Ideas
• Grades 6-8 - Lesson Plans & Discussion Ideas
• Grades 9-12 - Lesson Plans & Discussion Ideas

  This page will be changing frequently as we add more information from educators. Please share additional ideas for using The Greatest Good film with us (mfry@duke.edu)

The Following sites require that you attend training to obtain their useful lesson plan materials:

• Project Learning Tree, PLT (training provides a curriculum guide and useful teaching tips)
• Ag in the Classroom (many states offer facilitator training)
• LEAF (training and curriculum guide offered free of charge to Wisconsin, K-12 teachers)

Continue to check the Forest History Society for further modules being added to the "If Trees Could Talk" curriculum.