FM4 Plant Systems Advanced Foundational Lesson Unit: Forest Management Lesson Title: Tree Maintenance Competency: Determine basic tree maintenance procedures and demonstrate safe use of tools to maintain trees. Standards CS.03.04. Use appropriate protective equipment and demonstrate safe and proper use of AFNR tools and equipment. PST.02.02. Operate machinery and equipment while observing all safety precautions in AFNR settings. PS.03.02. Develop and implement a management plan for plant production. CCSS.ELA.11-12.RIT.3.D. Read and comprehend informational text independently and proficiently. CCSS.ELA.11-12.SL.2.A.Speak audibly and to the point, using conventions of language as appropriate to task, purpose, and audience when presenting including fluent and clear articulation, strategically varying volume, pitch, and pace to consistently engage listeners. Student Learning Objectives Slide 3 in FM4 Tree Maintenance Lesson Objective— After completing this lesson on Tree Maintenance, students will demonstrate their ability to apply the concept in real-world situations by obtaining a minimum score of 80% on the Safety Video evaluation. Enabling Objectives As a result of this lesson, the student will… 1. Identify hazards associated with tree maintenance and demonstrate safe use of tools. 2. Identify and demonstrate proper pruning techniques to maintain trees. Page 2 Time: Approximately 100 minutes List of Resources Instructional Materials Laboratory. (2008). Forestry. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri. Jull, L. (2012, August 13). Pruning deciduous trees. Retrieved from http://hort.uwex.edu/articles/pruning-deciduous-trees/ Trokey, C.B., & McGinnes, E.A., Jr. (1993, October). Pruning forest trees. Retrieved from http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G5160 List of Tools, Equipment, and Supplies FM4 PowerPoint Presentation FM4 Activity Sheet and Evaluation Packet FM4 Student Activity Sheet Packet FM4 Pruning Trees Lab Instructions Note cards or small sheets of paper for review activity Pruning saw Hand shears or pruners Axe Chainsaw Peavey-cant hook Safety glasses Hard hat Safety vest Ear protection Tree planting bar Tree calipers Biltmore stick Key Terms Slide 4 in FM4 Tree Maintenance The following terms are presented in this lesson (shown in bold italics): Pruning saw Wedge Peavey – Cant hook Bucking Felling Log roll Kickback Limbing Pruning Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 3 Woodchoppers maul Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 4 Interest Approach: Use an interest approach that will prepare the students for the lesson. Teachers often develop approaches for their unique class and student situations. A possible approach is included here. Slides 5-6 in FM4 Tree Maintenance Tool Round Up – The instructor will set out the following objects or print pictures from FM4.1. • Pruning saw • Hand shears • Axe • Chainsaw • Splitting wedge • Peavey-cant hook • Safety glasses • Hard hat • Safety vest • Ear protection • Tree planting bar • Tree calipers • Biltmore stick Students will work in pairs to analyze and classify the materials that have been set out. Students should look for similarities and differences among each item and create a logical explanation for categorizing them into groups. The pairs should write their groupings on a piece of paper with their rationale for how they chose to group them. When complete, have each pair share their groups and rationale. Compare and contrast each group’s answers. Explain that all of these tools can be grouped according to specific tasks; however, the overall commonality between them is they are part of tree maintenance. Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 5 Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies Objective 1: Identify hazards associated with tree maintenance and demonstrate safe use of tools. Slide 7 in FM4 Tree Maintenance Teaching Strategies Related Content Project the word ‘Maintenance’ onto the board. Ask students to shout out what that word means to them. Next, add the word ‘Tree’ to ‘Maintenance’. Now ask students how this changes the words they initially shouted out and/or what needs to be added to their original words to still make them applicable. Slide 8 in FM4 Tree Maintenance Highlight some of the words that are on track with what is covered throughout this lesson. Build upon student discussion and ask them why tree maintenance is so important in a forest setting. Share with students the importance of staying safe and using proper equipment when maintaining trees – whether it be during planting, pruning or harvest. Today we will be taking a closer look at each of those processes and the safety considerations and tools involved in each. Divide class into eight groups. Assign each one of the following tools: • Tree saw • Hedge shears and hand pruners • Planting tools • Axe • Wedges • Peavey or cant hook • Chain saw Have each group read their assigned section Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 6 in activity sheet FM4.2 and conduct additional research to identify a list of safety procedures and precautions for their assigned tool. Groups should record this information on a poster board formatted with the categories below: • Title of tool (placed in top center of poster board) • Description of tool (under title) • Safety procedures (listed under description) • Safety precautions (identified under safety procedures) When finished, have students hang their posters around the room and present to the class. During presentation, instructor should show the tool and demonstrate its use. Do this for all tools except chainsaws which will soon be covered in more depth. Share with students that chainsaws are one of the most common tools used and it is critical to operate them safely. Highlight the information the group found about chainsaw safety and the information to Chainsaw Safety the right accordingly. • Recent study found 50,000 people required hospital treatment from Slide 9 in FM4 Tree Maintenance injuries associated with chain saws o According to U.S. Product Safety Commission • Operators can make careless mistakes o Reaching across saw o Losing control of saw o Loss of balance due to loss of footing o Kickback o Safety awareness can reduce the incidence of injury. Content Delivery Options: If teacher is qualified in operations, demonstrate each step to the class and have students participate where possible. Utilize lab/shop area so chainsaw can be started, Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 7 etc. Have a local chainsaw operator come into class and demonstrate proper operation of chain saw, having students participate where possible. Utilize lab/shop are so chainsaw can be started, etc. If using this option, make sure that all content on the right is covered— fill in any gaps the guest presenter may overlook. Go through the slides of information, and then show some videos of safety and operation. Examples could include: • https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Vm8YYURlcSk • https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=-KyI1WtMMVQ • https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=Do5DfkHBhtg Remind students that safety begins before Safety Preparation saw operation begins. 1. Owner’s Manual o Read and study owner’s manual Slides 10-16 in FM4 Tree Maintenance 2. Clothing and Protective Equipment o Clothing ▪ Well-fitted clothing ▪ Chainsaw chaps o Hard Hat ▪ Protection from falling limbs or branches o Safety Goggles ▪ Can also use eye glasses with side shields ▪ Protection from flying wood chips, twigs and sawdust o Ear Protection ▪ Ear muffs or ear plugs ▪ 95+ decibel noise level coming from the saw o Gloves ▪ Light-weight, non-slip gloves Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 8 ▪ Protection from abrasions and wood cuts o Safety Boots ▪ With good gripping soles to prevent falls ▪ High tops to protect ankles ▪ Steel toes to protect feet Next, prepare the saw. Ask students what Saw Preparation and Maintenance they think is involved here. • Sharp teeth o Signs of saw teeth in need of Share with students that a saw in good sharpening condition is safer and easier to operate. ▪ Chain tends to walk Preventative maintenance will allow you to sideways while cutting cut more wood quickly and safely. ▪ Cut shows fine powder instead of chips Slides 17-19 in FM4 Tree Maintenance ▪ User must press down hard to keep cutting ▪ Smell burnt wood • Correct chain tension o Too loose ▪ Chain will derail o Too tight ▪ Chain will bind o All chains stretch with most occurring within first half hour of operation o Cold chain should be tightened to about 1/32 inch at the center bar o Warm chain adjusted to 1/8 inch gap • Proper lubrication o Will prolong chain’s useful life o Some saws have automatic oilers ▪ Make sure they are adjusted correctly ▪ May still need extra bit of oil o If chain smokes while operating, there is not enough lubrication • Properly turned engine Share with students that chain saws are Forest Management FM4 Tree Maintenance Page 9 typically used for three purposes: felling trees; limbing trees and bucking logs. Divide class into 3 or 6 groups and assign each group either felling trees, limbing trees and bucking logs. Provide appropriate content from activity Felling Trees sheet FM 4.3 to each group. In addition to Consider the characteristics of the tree and reading the content provide, instruct groups direction of fall to do additional research needed to creatively • Observe how it leans. present their process to the class. • Notice if there is an uneven top. • Observe growth or breakage. When ready, groups will present their • Determine wind direction. information. The teacher may double check their presentation and/or add in additional Clear the ground information as shown in the right-hand • Clear working space around the tree. column. • Use axe to cut away brush and saplings. Additional information may be found here: http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G1958 Develop a felling safety plan in advance • Plan your escape route to side of fall at a 45° angle. • Plan a safe place to drop saw, allowing you an unhampered escape.