The best way to understand the different layers of a temperate deciduous forest is to explore the forest in person. If you live in an area near such a forest arrange to take students on a forest walk field trip, or if this is not possible ask students to take a forest walk with a parent or guardian. Plan a forest walk in a park or other area with a well-marked trail and dress appropriately for the weather and ground conditions. Instruct students to listen for the calls of frogs and birds, to look for berries and flowers on trees, shed snake skins, bear claw marks on tree bark, beetle tracks beneath bark, animal prints, owl pellets and squirrel and bird nests. Have students note the different things they observe and at what forest layer each sight or sound was observed.
For those unable to explore a forest in-person a virtual forest walk is available from the National Zoo. Students can take a virtual walk individually on a classroom computer or a projector may be used to display the walk to the entire class at one time. Extension activities can be used in conjunction with the virtual forest walk including exploring a rotting log, learning about the dynamic relationships between organisms in a forest, simulating the effects of the extinction of species, and creating a habitat journal and action plan where students can record their own reflections and conservation resources.
Much of the subterranean layer of the forest is composed of the roots of plants. Unfortunately, this layer is hidden from view during a forest walk, but a hands-on activity will help students to better understand this layer of the forest. Students should be broken into small groups, and each group should be given a potted plant to work with. First have students sketch a drawing of their plant. Students should be then instructed to carefully remove the plant from the pot. Have students make observations about the roots of the plant such as whether the roots are forked or branched, how the roots are different from the above-ground plant, how the roots are different from one another, and how the roots help to anchor the plant. Then instruct students to use a ruler to measure the roots of the plant noting the longest and shortest roots. Have students complete their plant sketch by adding the subterranean layer of the plant.
For a simple classroom exercise that demonstrates the different layers of the temperate deciduous forest, make five separate stations in the classroom. Ask for student volunteers to help model each of these layers. For example one of the tallest students in the class might stand on a chair to act as the canopy layer. A student may choose to lay on the floor to be the ground or subterranean layer. Students can stand, sit or squat to act as the different forest layers.