Disciplines/Subjects: Phenology, Botany, Ecology
Key Themes: Phenology, Plant Physiology, Data Collection and Analysis, Environmental Changes
Students will take on the role of phenologists, scientists who study the timing of biological events about environmental conditions. This project will involve observing and documenting the phenological stages of various plant species on the school campus, and analyzing how environmental factors influence these stages. This real-world task allows students to engage in authentic scientific inquiry and produce meaningful outputs that could be used for ecological studies or shared with the local community.
Habits of mind: Scientific Inquiry Skills, Data Analysis Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Teamwork Skills, Environmental Awareness
Cognitive skills: Asking Questions, Predicting/Hypothesizing, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Organizing and Representing Information, Identifying Patterns and Relationships, Modeling, Interpreting Data/Information to Make Valid Claims, Valuating arguments, Constructing an Evidence-based Explanation
Content Knowledge:
Plant Biology: Understanding plant anatomy, physiology, and life cycles.
Phenological Stages: Ability to identify and describe various phenological events.
Environmental Science: Insight into how environmental factors affect plant behavior.
Data Collection and Analysis: Skills in designing and conducting field observations, proficiency in measuring environmental variables.
Statistical Analysis: Knowledge of advanced statistics to analyze data, ability to correlate plant responses with environmental changes.