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Discuss plant growth, branches, buds, bud scale, scars, measurements and averages. Students measure three branches each from three different levels of the plant (top, middle and bottom) on three different sides of the plant (N, E, S, W). Find the averages and note any significant differences. Wrap-up: what effects plant growth?
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Discuss schoolyard invertebrates and their characteristics. Discuss good sketching strategies. Students search for four bugs. Draw the bug in as much detail as possible and make some observations. Wrap-up: share cool bugs and observations.
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Students learn how to calculate percentage based off of tallys found around the schoolyard. Follow up: Compare answers between groups.
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Discuss community and our rights and responsibilities within our school community. Explain living vs. non-living. Discuss plant needs and things that hurt plants. Show the pictures of things that hurt plants on the “Care Bingo” cards. In pairs students find and circle the things that hurt plants and positive ways to treat plants in the garden. Wrap up: what are our responsibilities for the natural area? What about other areas like parks? Why should we care for our garden and gardens in general (provide oxygen, helps us care for other creatures etc) and how can we do so?
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Students explore the schoolyard and pick their “champion” tree; they must then find their tree’s total points by calculating and adding the circumference, height, and 1/4 of the tree’s branch spread. Wrap up: Discuss and discover who has the champion tree!
