Web Lesson Template

Trees Through the Seasons

A Web Lesson for Middle School Science

Designed by

Colleen Craddock

craddockc@edmonds.wednet.edu

Essential Question: How do things change in nature over time?

Scenario:  You are a junior parks department ranger and your job is to monitor how trees are doing in your park.  Some local citizens have expressed concern about the changes in the trees over the year and want you to determine if the trees changes are normal or abnormal. In order to decide, you are required to observe and collect data from one tree for an entire school year.  At the end of the year, you will make a multimedia presentation to explain your process and findings to the community.

Task

• During this Year:

1.       Pick one tree at school to monitor

2.       Observe the tree 5 times during the school year.

3.       Draw a picture of the tree during each observation

4.       Find 2 leaves to keep in your lab book from each observation

5.       Record all observations and keep all data in your lab book.

6.   Maintain a digital journal 

****Make sure you remember which tree you are observing*****

• Final Product:

Create a multimedia presentation detailing your observation process, data collection, and conclusion about the changes your tree made over time.  

Resources

Information about Trees: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/tree_kit/

Picture Dictionary: http://www.pdictionary.com/

Spanish Dictionary: http://www.spanishdict.com/

Russian Dictionary: http://www.freedict.com/onldict/rus.html

Chinese Dictionary: http://www.tigernt.com/dict.shtml

 
Tree Glossary

Digital Journal Template.doc

Assessment

	0	2	3	4	Possible Points	Your Points
Lab book organization and neatness	Lab book is lacking in neatness and/or organization	Lab book is missing one of the following: Legibility Order Table of Contents	Lab book is often legible, pages are in order, and work is listed in the table of contents.	Lab book is clearly legible, pages are in order, and work is listed in the table of contents	4
Observations	Written observations are missing or inaccurate	Written observations are minimal or unclear	Written observations are clear	Written observations are detailed and clear enough to be used by other readers	8
Data (Leaves)	Data is missing	Data is incomplete	Data is present without labels or out of order	Data is present with clear labels and in chronological order	8
Conclusion	Student did not (accurately) explain the changes their tree experienced	Student explains the changes their tree experienced using no evidence	Student is able to clearly explain all of the changes their tree experienced using some supporting evidence	Student is able to clearly explain all of the changes their tree experienced using ample supporting evidence	8
Technology	Student refuses to work collaboratively	Student participates minimally in movie making	Student contributes well to collaborative process	Student actively collaborates with peers to enhance content area work	4
Movie	Student does not produce a movie	Movie is present but does not meet time and/or picture requirements	Movie meets time and picture requirements and most lab components are explained	Movie meets time and picture requirements and all lab components are explained	8

Works Cited

"Maple Leaves". DK Clipart. 2006, 25/8/06,
       http://www.dorlingkindersley- uk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/clipart/sci_plant/book_sci_plant2.html