www.mndnr.gov/schoolforest
Minnesota School Forest Program
Lesson Title: Tree ID and Forest Mapping
Name: Nicholas Rice
School email: nickr@cityacademy.org
School Forest: Big Urban Woods
Grade(s): 9-12
Objective(s): Students will practice using ‘A Beginner’s Guide to MINNESOTA TREES’ booklet to identify tree
species by common name. Students will use math concepts to determine/create a forest plot and determine
DBH (diameter breast height). Students will enter data into a spreadsheet. Students will use GPS and scalemodel concepts to create a visual representation of the forest plot. Students will research scientific names and
other information about the trees found in the plot.
Procedure:
In forest Procedure: Tree ID and Plotting
1. Students use a large measuring tape to mark off a 1/10th acre plot. This is a circle with a diameter of 37.2
feet.
2. Students will pace off the 37.2 feet, this make a quicker reference for students to create their plots.
3. Students use ribbon to mark the boundary of the circular plot.
4. Students use the ‘Tree ID Data Table’ in Microsoft-Excel to record their data.
5. Students use the measuring tape to determine ‘Breast Height’ (4.5 feet). Students should also note where
4.5 feet is on their own bodies. This allows for quicker measurements later.
6. Students measure the circumference of each tree. After the tree ‘Common Name’ and ‘Circumference’ is
recorded on the data table the tree should be marked using ribbon (preferably a different color than used to
mark the boundary of the plot).
7. Students should identify, measure, and record every tree in the plot.
8. Remove all ribbon from forest when finished.
At School Procedure: Data Analysis and Unit Conversion
9. Students use unit conversion equations to calculate the: diameter of the trees in inches and the diameter of
the trees in centimeters using their circumference measurements.
Circumference = 2 𝜋 r
10. Students use books or internet resources to research the species (scientific) names of each tree.
11. Record all information on the ‘Tree ID Data Table’.
[Type text]
Example Data Table below.
Site #
Common
Name
Tree Number
Species (Scientific
Name)
Circumference
(in)
DBH (in)
DBH (cm)
1
2
3
4
5
At School Procedure: Plot Mapping and Scale Drawing
12. Students will either: use official maps of their school forest or go to the school forest and make their own
measurements. GPS is helpful.
13. Students use scaling equations to create their own maps of the school forest.
Length of Drawing
/Real Length = Scale Ratio
14. Students use their scaling equations to create scale-model circles to represent the plots where their data
was collected.
Example Map: The map below shows plots created at the Big Urban Woods school forest.
Additional:
A. Students can measure tree age and map.
B. Students can calculate carbon sequestration or board feet of each plot.
C. Students can put more information on their map about each tree species.
D. Students can compare their map to historical maps of traffic or plantings in the forest.
Minnesota School Forest Program.
Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
MN DNR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.