Teacher and Student Resources
PPA is pleased to offer this book of lesson plans and resources to educators interested in teaching about the New Jersey Pinelands, and in using the Pinelands as a vehicle to teach broader themes of ecology, biology, geology, history and social science.
John Bunnell Tabernacle, NJ This photo of a male Pine Barrens treefrog was taken at night at a Pinelands pond. May is the peak breeding period for the species. By forcing air between their abdomen and vocal pouch, males produce an advertisement call to attract females for mating.
The curriculum guide is available in downloadable PDF files below (or hardcopy upon request):
- Introduction
- Geology
- History
- Water
- Biodiversity
- Human Impact & Conservation
- References & Suggested Reading
The curriculum also comes with a 30 minute The Pine Barrens: Up Close & Natural DVD, which is accompanied by a teacher’s guide on CD-ROM. This film is the finest natural history documentary about the Pine Barrens ever produced, and offers an amazing visual introduction to the plants, animals, and water resources that make this such a unique ecosystem.
Many thanks to the wonderful teachers who developed this curriculum:
Kevin Kopp, Project Director, Environmental Youth Education Services (EYES)
Bunny Jaskot, Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School
Dayna Mennen, New Egypt High School
Ron Smith, Haddonfield High School
To request a hardcopy of the curriculum, plus the DVD and teacher guide, contact Rachel at (609) 859-8860 x114 or rachel@pinelandsalliance.org.
Here’s a sample of the film:
Pine Barrens’ Aquatic Environment
The tea-colored rivers and streams of the Pine Barrens are famous for their beauty. The source of these streams is rainwater that percolates through the sandy soil and recharges the aquifer.