Anatomy of Plants
This year we will be participating in a citizen science organization called Project Budburst. A citizen science is when citizens (people like us) participate in a science project to help scientist look at something. Project Budburst is a citizen science organization where people around the world observe different plants and notice when they change throughout the different seasons. We will be observing and submitting our results to let scientist know when a specific plant is budding, flowering and other changes. Scientists are studying plant phenology or the timing of life cycle events to see how plants are responding to climate changes.
This year in third grade we will be studying plants and their life cycle changes and adaptations. We will be studying roots, stems, leaves, flowers and how they work. We will look at what resources or things we get from trees and how people sometimes cut down too many trees for these products. The cutting down of too many trees has caused our climate to change and get warmer. By studying trees we know more about them and become better observers and scientist. Scientists are trying to study when plants are changing throughout our country. They want to know when leaves are changing in Ohio, Colorado, California and all the different states. Scientists need data about the whole country and they are having trouble being everywhere they need to be to see these changes. They need our help.
This year, we are volunteering to observe and notice the sugar maple tree and its changes throughout the seasons. We will be entering data about when the sugar maple gets its first buds, first leaf, all leaves unfold, when the first flower appears, full flower, first ripe fruit, full fruiting, 50% or half the leaves on the tree leaf colors and 50% leaf fall. For example, we will record when the first buds or first fruits will appear on the tree. We will notice when the leaves have changed color and when they fall off. Adding our data onto Project Bud Burst, scientist can tell if or how our weather/climate is changing in the environment. This is our first year participating in this special project and I hope you are as excited about this as I am.
Click on the links provided below to learn more about Project Budburst.
This year in third grade we will be studying plants and their life cycle changes and adaptations. We will be studying roots, stems, leaves, flowers and how they work. We will look at what resources or things we get from trees and how people sometimes cut down too many trees for these products. The cutting down of too many trees has caused our climate to change and get warmer. By studying trees we know more about them and become better observers and scientist. Scientists are trying to study when plants are changing throughout our country. They want to know when leaves are changing in Ohio, Colorado, California and all the different states. Scientists need data about the whole country and they are having trouble being everywhere they need to be to see these changes. They need our help.
This year, we are volunteering to observe and notice the sugar maple tree and its changes throughout the seasons. We will be entering data about when the sugar maple gets its first buds, first leaf, all leaves unfold, when the first flower appears, full flower, first ripe fruit, full fruiting, 50% or half the leaves on the tree leaf colors and 50% leaf fall. For example, we will record when the first buds or first fruits will appear on the tree. We will notice when the leaves have changed color and when they fall off. Adding our data onto Project Bud Burst, scientist can tell if or how our weather/climate is changing in the environment. This is our first year participating in this special project and I hope you are as excited about this as I am.
Click on the links provided below to learn more about Project Budburst.
Introductory Lessons- How to Begin
All About Leaves
Fall Lessons 1 and 2: Leaf Identification and Rubbings
The initial lesson plans are to build interest and to identify the plant being followed throughout the year through Project Budburst. The plant's life cycle is being observed and studied. The allotted time is two 60 minute slots and are great activities for those beginning days of school.
In beginning of this unit, the student’s first goal is to identify a sugar maple tree for reporting to Project Budburst. To help in this identification process, each student collects six leaves from the school yard and completes a crayon rubbing of the leaf. In the classroom, students are given access to various tree identification tools including Leaf Snap app and Leaf-ID as well as book resources including Trees of Ohio Field Guide and Peterson Field Guide Trees and Shrubs. Once the sugar maple leaf is identified, students return to the school yard to locate and mark the sugar maple tree with a small purple spray paint mark placed on the lower trunk.
(The children really seem to enjoy this activity and the leaf rubbings are a hit.)
The initial lesson plans are to build interest and to identify the plant being followed throughout the year through Project Budburst. The plant's life cycle is being observed and studied. The allotted time is two 60 minute slots and are great activities for those beginning days of school.
In beginning of this unit, the student’s first goal is to identify a sugar maple tree for reporting to Project Budburst. To help in this identification process, each student collects six leaves from the school yard and completes a crayon rubbing of the leaf. In the classroom, students are given access to various tree identification tools including Leaf Snap app and Leaf-ID as well as book resources including Trees of Ohio Field Guide and Peterson Field Guide Trees and Shrubs. Once the sugar maple leaf is identified, students return to the school yard to locate and mark the sugar maple tree with a small purple spray paint mark placed on the lower trunk.
(The children really seem to enjoy this activity and the leaf rubbings are a hit.)
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Ohio Department of Agriculture's booklet with common leaves and characteristics of trees.
Have students identify their samples by using this link.
Another tree ID site using leaves, trunks, and fruits
This is a second identification source and an app for iPad for identification purposes. Students can check the chart for identification and then check it with the app.
A four minute introductory in the transport of water and nutrients in a tree.
This is the introduction to using a dichotomous key. Watch the first half for looking at how trees are identify and how it is more complex than just looking at one leaf. Watch the first half only.
SciShow Kids presents a 3-4 minute video on why trees change color in the fall due to the shorter days and cooler temperatures.
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image from bangormaine.gov/ The Science of Fall is a video about the changing leaves, the squirrel hiding its nuts, and spreading of pumpkin seeds (15 min.)
This SciShow Kids 4 minute video talks about how evergreens hold onto their water through their leaf structure.
An extra video from SciShow Kids, they show the difference between pine, fur and spruce trees.
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Mapping of Tree Color
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| fall_lesson_3_mapping_tree_color_changes.doc |
All About Stems
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Project Budburst Activity: Stems and water travel (60 min.)
A four minute video on how dye travels through celery. After watching complete inquiry.
Comparative Question:
Does the red dye water travel further up the stalk of celery with leaves or the celery without leaves? Materials:
Celery with and without leaves, red food dye Note: Complete the inquiry and then watch the video. Suggested Vocabulary:
Stem, xylem, |
Watch this video after completing the carnation inquiry (4 min).
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Science Inquiry Write Up
Describes why trees have rings (2:35 sec.)
Watch this how water travels up a trunk (3 min).
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Tapping a Maple Tree
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Children's Network gives a step by step description
on how to tap a maple tree (13:25 min video). Why do trees produce sap is explained along with the seasonal changes (10 min.),
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Children's Network shows how maple syrup and maple candy are made on a large scale production farm (7:39 min.).
Talks about how maple syrup is produced in Vermont and northeast (about 8 min.).
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Tap your maple trees supplies from leadevaporator.com. This supplier has the maple syrup bags and buckets.
Check out the most recent temperatures www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KLUK/2018/2/14/MonthlyCalendar.html
Content Vocabulary
Suggested Vocabulary List from Science A to Z
| plant_vocab_pg_1.doc.docx |
| plant_vocab_pg_2.doc |
Other great resources
Recommended Focus books from Science A to Z: Deforestation, Traveling Seeds, Pollinators, Succulents, Air Plants, plus an additional book All About Trees. (Need a subscription.)
Whole third and fourth grade unit on plants is title "The Wonderful World of Plants".
Whole third and fourth grade unit on plants is title "The Wonderful World of Plants".
More Great Book Titles
Roots