Fire safety and perpetuation of fire-dependent forests require understanding of fire behavior and ecology, not only by scientists and managers, but also by the public. Educational programs are an essential aspect of public outreach regarding fire, but many interesting aspects of fire science require knowledge and materials not readily available to educators. FireWorks is an educational program that can help solve this problem. FireWorks captures the results of many decades of fire research in 36 hands-on activities that make complex scientific concepts interesting and accessible to students and adults. The activities in the curriculum link to a trunk containing laboratory equipment and materials needed for the activities. For example, trunks include laboratory equipment for investigating the influence of fuel properties on fire behavior, botanical specimens for studying plant adaptations to fire, and photos for evaluating home safety in the wildland/urban interface. Fire plays a different role in different forest communities, a key concept of fire ecology; FireWorks brings this concept to learners by setting up comparisons of fire behavior, fire history, and adaptations to fire in three forest types common in the western states: ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and whitebark pine.
Results/Conclusions
Wildland fire provides a rich context for education because it requires understanding of concepts considered benchmarks for science literacy, including properties of matter, ecosystem fluctuations and cycles, habitat and survival, and human interactions with ecosystems. FireWorks captures these concepts in ways that help teachers meet educational standards. Program evaluation at the 7th grade level showed that FireWorks can increase understanding of wildland fire among students. A study of adult learning in community workshops demonstrated that use of FireWorks activities increased knowledge and created more positive attitudes and beliefs about fire management. Educators trained in the FireWorks curriculum consistently provide positive feedback on the training process, and on the application of the material in the classroom. The FireWorks curriculum provides a unique, hands-on tool for ecology education and fosters understanding of the complex and dynamic processes that shape the natural environment.
