Through the Years with a Tree
Summary
Summary:
2nd graders will adopt "one small square" of the school yard with a tree in it. Students will explore, observe and record the life and nature in that "one small square" throughout the school year. Data will be collected and recorded to make predictions and inquiries in regards to weather, temperature and phenology.
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Learning Goals
Goals:
To have students actively engaged in this activity through a variety of modes from observing surroundings, journaling observations (using their senses), to collecting data(temperature & precipitation). Students will use their observations to compare and predict weather. Students will note how the tree and the nature in that "one small square" changes through the year.
To have students actively engaged in this activity through a variety of modes from observing surroundings, journaling observations (using their senses), to collecting data(temperature & precipitation). Students will use their observations to compare and predict weather. Students will note how the tree and the nature in that "one small square" changes through the year.
Context for Use
Context for Use:
This year-long inquiry is designed for 2nd graders. Students will go outside to the "one small square" in the school yard a minimum of once a week. The students will be equipped with their nature tool kit. The tool kit will contain magnifying glasses, binoculars, pencils, crayons and markers. Adequate time will be allotted back in class to record and journal findings and their inquiries that arise through their observations. This will go on all year long. Students will note how that "one small square" and the tree in that area changes through the year.
This year-long inquiry is designed for 2nd graders. Students will go outside to the "one small square" in the school yard a minimum of once a week. The students will be equipped with their nature tool kit. The tool kit will contain magnifying glasses, binoculars, pencils, crayons and markers. Adequate time will be allotted back in class to record and journal findings and their inquiries that arise through their observations. This will go on all year long. Students will note how that "one small square" and the tree in that area changes through the year.
Description and Teaching Materials
Activity Description:
1. Prepare nature notebooks by covering a composition notebook with a nature themed piece of scrap booking paper. Each student will get to choose their own nature notebook.
2. This nature notebook will be stored in student's individual 3-ring binder that is divided into the following sections: (1) High/Low calendar (2) Journal pages (3) Phases of the moon.
3. Students will have access to a nature tool kit.
(binoculars can be ordered through Oriental Trading #IN-56/402-$7.99/dz)
(magnifying glasses can also be ordered through Oriental Trading # IN-39/123-$7.99/144 pieces)
4. The calendar I will be using this year for my Morning Meeting will be the Fresh Water Society Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendar. Each day we will sing the Weather Song:
Weather Song
By Jaela
This is pretty easy. During my morning meeting, I have someone go to the window and check the weather out. While they're heading out there, we sing this song.
Weather Song
(to the tune of "Oh My Darling")
What's the weather?
What's the weather?
What's the weather, everyone?
Is it windy?
Is it cloudy?
Is there rain?
Or is there sun?
Weather Helper, Weather Helper
What's the weather outside?
Go and look out the window,
Tell us what you see outside.
What's the weather?
What's the weather?
What's the weather tell everyone.
Is it windy? Is it cloudy? Is there rain? or is there sun?
5. We will record the weather along with the high/low temperature in our 3-ring binders. This will be done each day, along with the phases of the moon. At the end of each week we will calculate the mean, median and mode for the temperatures.
6. Each week we will go to our "one small square" in the school yard to investigate, explore, observe and discover. The students will use the 4 square nature journal page to record observations.
7. We will go out each week in this manner. However, once a month I will take a picture of each student by the tree in that "one small square" to note the changes not only in the tree but themselves as well.
* This will go on throughout the year.
1. Prepare nature notebooks by covering a composition notebook with a nature themed piece of scrap booking paper. Each student will get to choose their own nature notebook.
2. This nature notebook will be stored in student's individual 3-ring binder that is divided into the following sections: (1) High/Low calendar (2) Journal pages (3) Phases of the moon.
3. Students will have access to a nature tool kit.
(binoculars can be ordered through Oriental Trading #IN-56/402-$7.99/dz)
(magnifying glasses can also be ordered through Oriental Trading # IN-39/123-$7.99/144 pieces)
4. The calendar I will be using this year for my Morning Meeting will be the Fresh Water Society Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendar. Each day we will sing the Weather Song:
Weather Song
By Jaela
This is pretty easy. During my morning meeting, I have someone go to the window and check the weather out. While they're heading out there, we sing this song.
Weather Song
(to the tune of "Oh My Darling")
What's the weather?
What's the weather?
What's the weather, everyone?
Is it windy?
Is it cloudy?
Is there rain?
Or is there sun?
Weather Helper, Weather Helper
What's the weather outside?
Go and look out the window,
Tell us what you see outside.
What's the weather?
What's the weather?
What's the weather tell everyone.
Is it windy? Is it cloudy? Is there rain? or is there sun?
5. We will record the weather along with the high/low temperature in our 3-ring binders. This will be done each day, along with the phases of the moon. At the end of each week we will calculate the mean, median and mode for the temperatures.
6. Each week we will go to our "one small square" in the school yard to investigate, explore, observe and discover. The students will use the 4 square nature journal page to record observations.
7. We will go out each week in this manner. However, once a month I will take a picture of each student by the tree in that "one small square" to note the changes not only in the tree but themselves as well.
* This will go on throughout the year.
Teaching Notes and Tips
Resources:
One Small Square-backyard by Donald Silver
Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendar-Jeffers Foundation Revised 4.09
One Small Square-backyard by Donald Silver
Minnesota Weatherguide Environment Calendar-Jeffers Foundation Revised 4.09
Assessment
For the assessment I would look at their nature notebooks as well as to observe them weekly on our outside activity to see if they are understanding the concepts and inquiry on the changes happening.
Standards
Standards:
2.4.1.1.1-Structure & Function in Living Systems:
2.4.2.1.1-Interdependence in Living Systems:
Natural systems have many components that interact to maintain the living system.
2.1.1.2.1- The Practice of Science
Scientific inquiry is a set of interrelated processes incorporating multiple approaches that are used to pose questions about the natural world and investigate phenomena.
2.4.1.1.1-Structure & Function in Living Systems:
2.4.2.1.1-Interdependence in Living Systems:
Natural systems have many components that interact to maintain the living system.
2.1.1.2.1- The Practice of Science
Scientific inquiry is a set of interrelated processes incorporating multiple approaches that are used to pose questions about the natural world and investigate phenomena.