The teaching modules focus on defining forests, investigating their role in the water cycle, exploring some of their products and introducing students to sustainable forest management.

The teaching draws inspiration from internationally recognized pedagogical approaches such as the inquiry method. Most of the learning takes place by "doing", in classrooms or under the trees, rather than being paper-based, although reading and writing exercises are also included. The teacher's guide is complemented by a separate learning guide for school students.

The State of the World publications cover important global themes that are core to FAO's mission – eradicating hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; eliminating poverty and driving forward economic and social progress for all; and ensuring sustainable natural resources management.