Overview
In early spring older students visit their urban orchard and examine
bare tree branches. Discovering buds, important signs of life, they
study branches and share information with their e-pals and Growing
Buddies, who eventually care for the orchard. |
For more about Special #4, Virtual
Urban Gardens, email Bill
Ganter, author & AT&T Teacher Disseminator. |
Learning
Standards
Students understand humankind's interactions with nature, the
benefits and consequences of these actions, and the impact of science.
Students share their work with peers and the community through
on-line data collection.
Students connect science and technology to a variety of career
opportunities.
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Classroom
Activities
- In learning to be twig detectives, students:
- Perform outdoor and indoor activities as outlined in Whose
Bud Are You?
- Engage in How Many Buds? a math activity
that measures and estimates buds on a tree.
- Invite members from Urban Gardeners to demonstrate Bud Identification.
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- Study Illustrations and create a Glossary
of bud nomenclature.
- E-mail their observation, measurement, and sketching activities
to other classes.
- Discuss and record in computer journals how findings may predict
the health and production of trees.
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Community
Activities
As they continue to mentor their Growing Buddies, students make predictions
about bud and branch growth in spring and summer.
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Careers
Invited guests discuss and describe careers relating to trees and
orchards, i.e., farmers, foresters, and urban arborists. |
Materials
The Tree Identification Book by George Symonds, 1974:
William Morrow & Co.; Winter Tree Finder by Mary and
Tom Watts, 1970: Nature Study Guild; El Arbol/Trees by David Burnie,
1995: Santillana Pub. Co.; Materials for Whose Bud Are You?
and How Many Buds? |
Technology
Using Microsoft Word and floppy disks for their computer journals,
students learn to use the digital camera and scanner and post photos
and graphics on the Internet with Adobe Photoshop software for their
e-pal buddies. They also use the Internet to research tree identification
tips. |
Assessment
Teacher and students evaluate the activities based on preparation,
clarity, and sequence of sharing information and giving directions.
Computer Journals, e-mail, and glossaries are checked for accuracy
and comprehension of bud and twig identification and observations.
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Web
Sites
Students research trees at:
Forestry
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