• What do you see?
• Where did it come from?
• How many different kinds of trees are there? 

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     The winner of this contest will receive a tree of their choice to be planted in their yard and will be featured in an article in our school newspaper.This article will inform its readers about your outstanding scientific achievement.

While performing this task we will become botanists, scientists, who study plants.We will take a walk through the plant kingdom to learn about the largest plants found there,trees.You will work with a partner to complete the following tasks.

• Learn the special characteristics of each tree group.

• Visit web sites to gain knowledge about tree groups.

• Complete data sheets while collecting tree knowledge.

• Use learned tree knowledge to design and create an informational Taxonomy Guide.

• Use your taxonomy as a resource tool to help you identify and classify the trees on our school playground during the Name Those Trees Contest.

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Procedure

You will be performing a task by following the directions below.

1.  You are now an official botanist ready to begin
      a study on tree classification.

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Today's Scientific Problem/Question is:
Can you identify trees and group them while observing and comparing their characteristics using tree links found on the web?

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2. Print data sheet entitled, A Tree Investigation by
    clicking on the button below to record your hypothesis
    to today's question.

Print Data Sheet #1

3.Click on the Clues button to read a list of questions. These questions will help you identify the two tree groups.

Clues

4.  On the bottom of your printed data sheet #1, A
    Tree Investigation, list the two clues you have chosen
      to use while identifying tree groups.

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Ready to Explore? Let's take a walk in the plant kingdom.

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5.Observing Coniferous/Evergreen Trees

     a.Click on each tree name in the green box below to see   examples showing coniferous/evergreen trees.

    b. Observe all picture examples on this page carefully to
        discover describing characteristics of this group.

   Examples of Coniferous/Evergreen Trees

Eastern Red Cedar	Shortleaf Pine
Austrian Pine	Blue Spruce
Ashe Juniper	Douglas Fir
White Fir	Fraser Fir

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    c.Print and complete the Characteristics of
    Coniferous/Evergreen Trees, Data Sheet #2.

      (Be sure to go back to the websites to review information.)

Print Data Sheet #2

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6. Observing Deciduous Trees

     There are two parts in this step:

        a. Click on each tree name in the green box below
         to see examples showing deciduous trees.

       Observe all picture examples on this page carefully
        to discover describing characteristics.

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   Examples of Deciduous Trees

Box Elder	Flowering Dogwood
Southern Magnolia	Tree-of-Heaven
Black Hickory	Yaupon Holly
Bur Oak	Silver Maple
Cedar Elm	Willow Oak

     b. Print and complete the Characteristics of Deciduous
      Trees, Data Sheet #3.

Print Data Sheet #3

7.  Comparing Two Groups of Trees
You have looked at examples of two groups of  trees, the deciduous and the coniferous trees.
     Print and complete the Data Sheet #4 entitled,
     Comparing Two Groups of Trees.

Print Data Sheet #4

8. Using your rubric and information from the organizers
      about the two tree groups, design and create a
     Tree Taxonomy Guide.

9.   Use your taxonomy to assist you while identifying trees  during the Name Those Trees Contest.

Reread Steps

 

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Evaluation

You will be evaluated on each of the following criteria:

1.  completed data sheets

2.   completed pages included in your Tree Taxonomy
     Guide:

       1.  informing Coniferous Trees page
      2.  coniferous leaf examples
      3.  informing Deciduous Trees page
      4.  deciduous leaf examples
      5.  informing page telling about your Tree
        Group Preference
 

Your taxonomy guide will be graded on an individual basis.

Evaluation Criteria

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Congratulations!  Now you are ready to use your Tree Taxonomy Guide to help you as you observe, identify and classify trees on our school playground during the Name Those Trees Contest. Good luck.

Plan a field trip to London Town and Gardens, Eastport, Maryland  to explore and perform related tree activities.

Plan a field trip to Carrie Weedon Science Center Site, Galesville, Maryland to use lab resources available while performing related activities.

Have students visit Kid's Treehouse, a Fun Stuff site with tree activities.
 

Bibliography:
http://kbs.msu.edu/volunt/tour/tree7.htm
http://kbs.msu.edu/volunt/tour/tree12.htm
www.eecs.umich.edu/mathscience/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/
arb/livingtree.htm
www.noble.org.
http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/dendrohome.htm
http://botany.about.com/science/botany/gi/dynamic/offsiste.htm
 
 

• gather, evaluate, and analyze information/data and report results.

• solve problems and make decisions.