I. Curricular Framework

Concept:

Change

Essential Question:

How is the life cycle of a tree a study in Change?

Bridge:

My Own Collection

Content:

Tree Life Cycles (1 of 2)

Outcomes:

II. Standards Aligned

III. Instruction and Assessment

1. Connect: Connecting to the Concept Experientially

Objective: To experience and observe a living tree. To enhance observational skills.

Activity: Teacher assigns student pairs. After appropriate safety instructions and guidelines are clear, each pair of students takes a blindfold. One student in each pair blindfolds his/her partner and leads the “blind” student through the woods to a particular tree. The “guide” student then helps the “blind” student explore the tree and feel its uniqueness. The “guide” student asks questions like: Is the bark rough or smooth? Are there plants growing on the tree? Is the circumference of the trunk bigger or smaller than your waist? When the “blind” student is finished observing the tree, the “guide” student leads her/him back to where they began using an indirect route. The blindfold is removed, and the student tries to find the tree. When the tree is found, the partners switch roles and repeat the activity.

Assessment: Partner participation, adherence to guidelines, and responsibility for accomplishing the task.

2. Attend: Attending to the Connection

Objective: To pool observations. To discuss what makes all trees alike and what is unique about individual trees.

Activity: Students discuss their experiences in the “Hug a Tree” activity. List similarities and differences among trees on class charts.

Assessment: Quality of the discussion and accuracy of the lists.

Assessment, Phase One, Level of Engagement, Fascination:

3. Image: Creating a Mental Picture

Objective: To broaden the students’ experience with one tree to trees in general.

Activity: Instruct students to begin their own leaf collections. Begin the collecting exercise with them. Model for the students the correct identification, collection, and pressing techniques.

Assessment: Participation, adherence to guidelines, and responsibility for accomplishing the task.

Assessment, Phase Two, Seeing the Big Picture:

4. Inform: Receiving Facts & Knowledge

Objective: To teach the parts of a tree and their functions.

Activity: Lecture with accompanying visual aids. Include the following terms: deciduous, conifer, root, trunk, bark, cambium, phloem, xylem, branch, leaf, blade, stem, photosynthesis, chlorophyll. Assign readings in text.

Assessment: Objective quiz

Assessment, Phase Three, Success with Acquiring Knowledge:

5. Practice: Developing Skills

Assessment, Phase Four, Success with Acquiring Skills:

6. Extend: Extending Learning to the Outside World

7. Refine: Refining the Extension

8. Perform: Creative Manifestation of Material Learned

Assessment, Phase Five,Performance, Creative Use of Material Learned: