Author:
Jon Detka
Overview:
Students will develop and conduct a monitoring study of a 'weedy' area.
Students will collect data regarding the distribution, population, and
health of native and invasive plants. Later this data can be organized
and displayed as community educational pieces.
Grade Level: 2-6
Focus: Life
Science, Ecology, Investigation, Experimentation, Mathematics
Objectives:
-
Students will know the three major reasons
for monitoring a 'weedy' site.
-
Students will know the general steps taken
to develop a long-term monitoring and maintenance study.
Site: Outdoors/Indoors
Time Format: Long term project with
variable time requirements
Materials:
PVC tubing: 5 pieces ~ 24" long
Hammer
Tape Measure: At least 50' long
String
Hula Hoop
Paper Pad
Marking Pens - Permanent ink
Blank - study Data Collection Sheet
Advanced Preparation:
1. Collect the necessary supplies
from the materials section.
2. Have the PVC pre-cut into 24
inch pieces.
3. Scout out a suitable 'weedy'
area containing native and invasive vegetation ahead of time.
4. Review and print the content
of the Hula-Hoop Study Experiment Sheet
Activity:
1. Begin
by discussing the project and reasons for monitoring. Explain to students
that we are going to begin a project which will track changes in the
balance of native plants in our 'weedy' area. Scientist use a
method called monitoring to track and measure changes in
an area over time.
Ask students: Why
would it be important for us to monitor (track/measure) the weedy
area? So we can get them early before they spread.
Make a list titled:
Why Monitor Weeds & Native Plants?
Teacher Help:
Organized students answers into the following reasons.
- To test methods
or treatments used.
- To measure population
changes in weedy and native plants over time.
- To prevent the spread
of weeds by detecting them early.
- To show others
what you have done.
2. Form questions
and predictions about what will be observed in the 'weedy' area.
Explain to students that it is important to decide what will be measured
before setting out to monitor an area.
Make a list titled:
What is Being Measured?
Teacher Help: Organized students
answers into the following categories for both weeds and native plants.
-
How many plants of each type are there?
-
How healthy are the plants?
-
How much area is cover with weeds?
-
How do these factors change over time?
-
What do we think will happen?
Note: Additional questions and predictions
can be made but make sure they are measurable.
3. Discuss
and outline materials and methods. Explain to students that
the next step is to agree on how we are going to measure changes and collect
data that will help us answer the original questions.
Suggestions:
- Depending on
the experience level of students educators may let students devise
their own methodology based on the materials that you present to them.
-
The area be at least
50' X 50' and marked off using string and the PVC tubing..
-
Decide and take several
samples using the hula hoops. Have students throw the hula hoops
randomly into the project area.
-
Tag the areas that were
measured with the hula hoop using the PVC tubing.
-
Make a time span for
the project.
-
Recommend a measurement
schedule by asking: When are we going to measure our area?
How many times will they return over the span of the project?
4. Conduct
Data collection.
5. Have students
organize the data, compare observations/data, and address the original
questions/predictions.
Wrap-Up/Evaluation
1. Have students list the three
major reasons for monitoring a 'weedy' site.
Teacher Help:
1. To test
methods or treatments used.
2. To measure
population changes in weedy and native plants over time.
3. To show
others what you have done.
2. Have students make posters describing
the general steps used to develop the monitoring and maintenance
monitoring. Students could also focus on one facet of the monitoring project.
Teacher Help:
1.
Discuss the project and reasons for monitoring.
2. Form questions and predictions about what will be observed in
the 'weedy' area.
3. Outline the materials and methods.
4. Conduct Data collection.
5. Organize data, compare observations/data to questions/predictions.
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