Minnesota Tree Blitz

Melissa Habeck, Woodbury Junior High, Woodbury, MN, based on an activity from the MnSTEP course at the Audubon Center of the Northwoods.
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Summary

In this biology field experience, students will explore trees of Minnesota. This activity is tailored to middle level students whose working knowledge of trees is minimal and serves as an introduction to tree identification and observation. Working in cooperative groups, students will discover biodiversity of trees and determine populations of tree species using a "modified" transect method. Students will use classification keys to determine the species, will collect leaf samples and will collect data that will be compared with other groups' results.

Learning Goals

The activity is designed for students to learn about the natural world around them. Several skills will be developed including observation, data collection and presentation, use of a classification key and teamwork/collaboration. Key concepts include recognizing biodiversity in the living world, particularly the plant world, and working as a lab group/team to observe, collect data and compile results. Several vocabulary words will be discovered and/or reviewed through this process, including (but not limited to): alternate, opposite, compound leaves, simple leaves, leaflets.

Context for Use

This activity is designed for middle level students in a setting that has a variety of trees/plants within a short walking distance from the school. This activity could range from 1 to 4 class periods (50 minutes each), depending on how far you want to extend the activity and how many concepts you want to include. Equipment needed for this activity includes clipboards and classification keys. Students should have a basic introduction to tree identification before doing this activity (i.e. vocab introduced, practice using classification keys). This activity could easily be adapted for different age levels and other settings.

Description and Teaching Materials

Introduction/Preparation: To prepare the students for this activity, the basic vocabulary should be presented and reviewed. Students should practice identifying leaf types and using a dichotomous key with sample trees.

Implementation of the activity:
The students will work in established lab groups. Each group will have clipboards with recording sheets and a copy of the dichotomous key created for the trees in the area. (For younger students, create a simple key that includes only trees from the immediate area. For more complex studies, use any classification key or field guide for local trees).

Students will begin at one end of a grove of trees and work their way through identifying and tallying the number of each type of tree that they find. They will record information on the "Tree Blitz" recording sheet (see attachment). The following procedure (printed on recording sheet) will be used:
Procedure:
1. Stop at the first tree—use the classification key to determine what type of tree it is and a write it on the data table.
2. Do a neat mini-sketch of the leaf from this tree on the data table.
3. Put a tally mark in the "Tally" column of the data table.
4. Repeat with the remaining trees. If you come to a type of tree that you have already found, just add a tally mark to the "Tally" column next to that type of tree.
5. When finished, total up the number of each type of tree.

After collecting data for their transect, class data will be compiled on the data sheet. Students will then compare their own results to that of other groups and the class average. The activity ends with the students coming up with possible explanations on why data may differ amongst groups. Field data collection sheet (Microsoft Word 55kB Aug24 07)

Teaching Notes and Tips

This activity will serve as a precursor activity that will expose the students to a greater diversity of trees and provide additional practice in observation skills. To help the activity be effective, students should have experience working in lab teams and you may want to consider assigning specific "roles" to each group member to keep the students engaged and on task.

Assessment

Assessment for this will take two forms. First, following this activity, students will be individually "adopting" a tree, where they will be identifying, observing and recording qualitative and quantitative data. They will also be researching information about their type of tree. Performance on the project will help assess the learning in this activity. In addition, students will be tested on tree identification and observation through a lab practical quiz/test.
(The attachment shows one example of the student work that will be recorded and handed in)

Standards

7.IV.B.4—dichotomous keys
7.IV.B.5—using characteristics of an organism to identify

References and Resources