The Forest Forever CD-ROM presents the need for forest products, the need for grown trees, and the balance between the two. The CD-ROM shows a sample of how life would be different without wood products. The Environment Message discusses the various benefits of trees in terms of wildlife habitat, clean air, clean water, and cooling. The Product Message identifies the various tree products we rely on in everyday life. The Balance Message teaches how we can "manage" the forest to keep it healthy, growing, and productive so that we can enjoy the environment, products, and recreation it gives us.
 

 

 

Virtual Forest: The Virtual Forest activity reinforces concepts presented in the Environment Message, giving students an opportunity to explore the various wildlife found in the state's forests. The Virtual Forest is a 3-D virtual reality environment photographed in a typical forest in the state. The scene contains many of the elements of a healthy forest that the BMPs seek to preserve. In this way, the balance message is reinforced.

 
 
 

 

I Wood If I Could: This activity, I Wood If I Could reinforces the Product Message by providing students with images of everyday products which come from trees. The user must use the mouse to choose a button/icon which will identify the an image as one which the user thinks is a forest product.

 
 
  Forest Life Cycle: This activity reinforces the Balance Message by illustrating responsible harvesting. A healthy forest includes a cycle of activities over time. The user can drag a slider around in a circle and affect a region of the screen. That region contains an illustration of a plot of land, segmented off. In each segment, something different is occuring. For example, in one segment, a sapling is planted, in another a full-grown tree is growing, in another a controlled-burn is being set. As the user drags the slider around the circle, the plots of land change to indicate the cycle of a healthy, well-balanced forest. Time is indicated on the screen as the cycle is manipulated by the user.  
 

© 2002 Interactive Training Media, Inc.