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Student Page |
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Leaf Me Alone |
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The Mission |
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You are going to be Little Bo Peep. All of the trees have lost their leaves, and can’t tell where to find them. As Little Bo Peep, you are expected to lead the trees on a seasonal webquest and help them find out exactly what happened to their leaves. Where did they go? Why did they leave? Will they ever come back again? If so, when will they return? Will they look the same as they did when left? What will the leaves need when they return in order to keep them healthy and happy? You are going to use books, magazines and online resources to find out about leaves and how they change from season to season. You will find information about how weather affects the leaves as they change and grow. You will use the information you find to help you and your eighth-grade buddies present a grand performance for your parents and the community about the life-cycle of leaves.
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The Process |
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Step I The class will be divided into four groups. Get your leaf from your teacher. Your leaf will tell you which group you have been assigned to. Each group will use books, magazines and the online resources listed below to answer specific questions. 1. Where do leaf colors come from? 2. How do leaves change color? 3. Do leaves change color because of weather? 4. Why do leaves fall? Each group will complete a KWL (http://www.abcteach.com/GraphicOrganizers/KWL.htm) for each question. Step II Explore leaves in the park near the school. Draw pictures of your observations. Use the information that you have gathered in Step I to explain what you have observed. Each group will record their observations on the Spider Map (www.abcteach.com/GraphicOrganizers/spider.htm) Step III Learn more about Phenology (www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/season/pheno.htm). Design your own Phenology calendar. Be sure to show the changes that occur from month to moth and season to season Step IV Join the Phenology Challenge. (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/season/pheno.htm) Be sure that each person in the group observes different seasonal changes as they follow the online Scavenger Hunt. Use the Research Web (http://www.abcteach.com/GraphicOrganizers/ResearchWeb.htm) to record your information gathered on the Scavenger Hunt.. Step V You are finally able to write the class play using the information you have gathered. Each person in the group will assume one of the following roles:
Writer – You will work with other writers from different groups to write the play. Illustrators – You will work with other illustrators to design and draw the scenery for the play Actors and Actresses – You will work with other actors and actresses to perform the play Graphic Designers – You will design and produce the program that will be given to the audience. |
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Resources |
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http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/trees/treestruecolor.htm Why Do Leaves Change Color?http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/teacher/ EEK Magazine http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/index.htm Nature’s Notes http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/season/pheno.htm May Phenology http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/index.htm Vegetation Fascination http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm Environmental Education for Kids Weather Webquest http://www.weather.com/education/wxclass/lessonplans/waterlessonplan.html Weather and Water http://www.weather.com/education/wxclass/lessonplans/geographylessonplan.html Weather and Geography http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss6/index.html Introduction to Life Cycle http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/index.html Great Plant Escape http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/living/living.html The Cycle of Life |
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Scaffolding Lessons |
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