Schlitz Audubon Nature Schlitz Audubon Nature CenterCenter

Kimberly CaseyKimberly Casey

Joe Finn Jr.Joe Finn Jr.

Johanna FrenchJohanna French

Amanda KuhnkeAmanda Kuhnke

Our field tripOur field trip to the Schlitz Audubon to the Schlitz Audubon Nature CenterNature Center will be part of an will be part of an environmental unit where the environmental unit where the students study the lifecycle of students study the lifecycle of plants.plants.

Driving QuestionDriving Question

- How do plants live, grow How do plants live, grow and die?and die?

- What evidence of this can What evidence of this can be found at the Schlitz be found at the Schlitz Audubon Center?Audubon Center?

- The students will find the The students will find the answer to thanswer to theseese questionquestionss by looking at by looking at what the plants do to what the plants do to prepare for winter and prepare for winter and how this is a part of their how this is a part of their life cycle.life cycle.

  

GoGoaals of the Field Trip:ls of the Field Trip:Students will:Students will:- Learn what the plants are doing to Learn what the plants are doing to

prepare for winter, how and why prepare for winter, how and why their leaves change color, why their leaves change color, why plants need to move their seeds plants need to move their seeds and what happens to all of those and what happens to all of those leaves once they drop leaves once they drop from from the the trees.trees.

- Observe different types of Observe different types of environment not easily accessible environment not easily accessible to to students living students living in the city.in the city.

- Identify 3 different plants at Identify 3 different plants at twotwo different stages of growth.different stages of growth.

- TThrough observation discover how hrough observation discover how the different parts of a plants life the different parts of a plants life cycle connect to each other.cycle connect to each other.

- Students will use palm pilots to Students will use palm pilots to take pictures of plants in different take pictures of plants in different stages of the life cycle that they stages of the life cycle that they will later print and use in the will later print and use in the diagrams they create of the plants diagrams they create of the plants lifecyclelifecycle..

Application of TermsApplication of Terms

Students will need to learn and understand the following Students will need to learn and understand the following terms:terms:

GerminationGermination – To begin to grow or develop – To begin to grow or develop Photosynthesis Photosynthesis –The process of which plants turn –The process of which plants turn

carbon dioxide into oxygen. carbon dioxide into oxygen. PollinationPollination – Process of making seeds that involves the – Process of making seeds that involves the

transfer of pollen from one plant to another.transfer of pollen from one plant to another. Seed dispersionSeed dispersion – Spread of seeds though wind, water, – Spread of seeds though wind, water,

explosion or animals.explosion or animals. LifespanLifespan – the plant cycle of life. – the plant cycle of life. CompostCompost – a mixture of various decaying organic – a mixture of various decaying organic

substances used as fertilizer for soil.substances used as fertilizer for soil.                  

The fieldtrip will provide the The fieldtrip will provide the students with the opportunity to students with the opportunity to physically be able to see the terms physically be able to see the terms in action and to interact with in action and to interact with them. them.

The interaction and investigation The interaction and investigation of different plants parts will of different plants parts will trigger the students curiosity, trigger the students curiosity, encourage them to ask further encourage them to ask further questions, and help them to clear questions, and help them to clear up any misconception that they up any misconception that they may have.may have.

It is important that the students It is important that the students learn and are able to use these learn and are able to use these terms because they will help terms because they will help them them gain a better understanding of the gain a better understanding of the plant cycle. It is plant cycle. It is also also important important that the students understand the that the students understand the different parts of the plant cycle different parts of the plant cycle so that they can see how they so that they can see how they effect and are effected by it and effect and are effected by it and learn to appreciate and understand learn to appreciate and understand it’s importance to all living life.it’s importance to all living life.

Data Collection/ ManagementData Collection/ Management

Costs and LogisticsCosts and Logistics

Transportation to and from the nature center will be by bus which will have to be rented.

The cost of this field trip for 40 students and 4 parent volunteers will come to a total of $170 plus the additional cost of renting the school bus.

Utilizing the ExperienceUtilizing the Experience A fieldtrip, such as this one, to a

nature reserve is very valuable to inner city kids because it provides them with the opportunity to experience an environment that they normally do not have access to.

Experiencing new environments provides students with new background knowledge which they are able to draw on when studying life science in the classroom.

This fieldtrip will provide the students with a first hand experience of the natural environment of many plants and animals which in turn will trigger their interest and motivation.

AssessmentAssessment

During the fieldtrip the students will be assessed During the fieldtrip the students will be assessed based on:based on: Their behavior during the trip. Their behavior during the trip. Having taken the necessary amount of pictures and Having taken the necessary amount of pictures and

having photographed the appropriate plants and having photographed the appropriate plants and saved them to their palm pilot. saved them to their palm pilot.

Whether or not they were able to incorporate their Whether or not they were able to incorporate their pictures into their diagram of the plant life cycle, once pictures into their diagram of the plant life cycle, once back in the classroom, using all of the key terms. back in the classroom, using all of the key terms.

Cross Curricular ActivitiesCross Curricular Activities

Social Studies:Social Studies:Study the effects of deforestationStudy the effects of deforestationWhere are forest environments Where are forest environments

such as this one prevalent? such as this one prevalent?

English:English:Write a story or a poem about the Write a story or a poem about the

plant cycle.plant cycle. Art:Art:Collect leaves and seeds that Collect leaves and seeds that

have fallen to the ground and have fallen to the ground and make a collage out of them.make a collage out of them.

MisconceptionsMisconceptions

Students that do not have access to nature are bound to have many misconceptions and making a fieldtrip such as this one is one way of identifying and correcting misconceptions.

Common misconceptions:- Students think that plants only reproduce through seeds.

- Students think that cellular respiration only occurs at night.

-- Students do not realize that this type of environment exists so close to the city.

-- Students do not realize that when plants die they leave a lot of nutrients behind.

- Students think that when a tree sheds its leaves it has died.

Permission SlipPermission SlipDear Parents and/or Guardian, Dear Parents and/or Guardian,

Our class is planning a trip to the Our class is planning a trip to the Schlitz Audubon Nature CenterSchlitz Audubon Nature Center.  This field trip is serving as the .  This field trip is serving as the student’s final project for our environmental science education unit.  We will be taking a school bus, student’s final project for our environmental science education unit.  We will be taking a school bus, and we are leaving right after lunch at and we are leaving right after lunch at 1:00pm1:00pm on on Tuesday December 11Tuesday December 11thth, 2007., 2007.

  The cost is $3.75 per student + the school bus cost.  Please enclose the money along with the returned The cost is $3.75 per student + the school bus cost.  Please enclose the money along with the returned

permission slip. permission slip.   We need four parent/guardian volunteers to chaperone this trip.  If you would like to be a volunteer, We need four parent/guardian volunteers to chaperone this trip.  If you would like to be a volunteer,

please note this on the bottom of this slip.please note this on the bottom of this slip.  The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is located at:The Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is located at:1111 E. Brown Deer Road1111 E. Brown Deer RoadMilwaukee, WI 53217Milwaukee, WI 53217(414) 352-2880(414) 352-2880  Please check the weather previous to the field trip.  We will be outside for the majority of the trip, so Please check the weather previous to the field trip.  We will be outside for the majority of the trip, so

make sure your student dresses warmly. make sure your student dresses warmly.   I x______________________ give my child permission to attend the field trip to Schlitz Audubon Nature I x______________________ give my child permission to attend the field trip to Schlitz Audubon Nature

Center.Center.  ______ Yes, I volunteer to chaperon.  Please include your contact phone number.______ Yes, I volunteer to chaperon.  Please include your contact phone number.