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Teachers Academy Links Participants in the Teachers Academy were asked to select links that they found useful for plant units in their K-8 schools. In addition to selecting the links the teachers had to write a brief description of the site with clues as to the ways the site might be used by teachers and/or their students. Additional sites have been added in later years by D. Kramer. Some sites are listed under more than one category if they have multiple resource types. |
History of BotanyPlant Trivia TimelineMajor events in the history of plants and the history of botany. Chronological order. Maintained by the Huntington Library of the Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA. http://www.huntington.org/BotanicalDiv/Timeline.html |
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| Collaborative
Learning
BlueWeb'n
-- Learning
Sites Library EduHound Science Global School Net's
Internet Projects
Registry NASA Quest
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| Collections of Teaching
Resources for Botany Kew Information Sheets Single concept sheets of information to support teaching about plants (and other science topics). Developed by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (England). http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/ Natural Inquirer "Read and download lesson plans, word games, and other resources to help you use the Natural Inquiter in your classroom." Includes "a yearlong lesson plan aimed at helping your students learn about the scientific methods." From the US Department of Agriculture. http://www.naturalinquirer.usda.gov/educators.cfm |
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Discussion of Hot TopicsBioscience ChallengesThis site has a number of papers on important biology issues and concepts which can form the basis of interesting and useful classroom discussions or individual study topics. It includes sections on biodiversity, environment, genomics, biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers, and education. http://www.actionbioscience.org/ |
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Hands-on Activitiesactionbioscience.orgThis site "examines bioscience issues in environment, biodiversity, genomics, biotechnology, evolution, biology in the new millenium, and education. Includes peer-reviewed articles and educator resources." http://www.actionbioscience.org/ Biology
Lessons
for Prospective and Practicing Teachers C-Ferns
Fast Plants Great Plant
Escape Newton's Apple
SMILE Science and
Math Initiative
for Learning Enhancement |
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GardeningAmerican Horticultural SocietyHas links to information about cultivated plants, mostly ornamentals and other plants grown by the home gardener. http://www.ahs.org/ The Encyclopedia of
Plants Horticulture
and Crop Science in Virtual Perspective Kids
Gardening National Gardening:
Kids
and Classrooms |
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| Natural Area Projects Many schools have established natural areas on their property or on other property in their district. These natural areas are excellent for teaching students about ecology and about the plants and animals that inhabit the natural areas. Here are just a few of the many excellent web sites that could be useful for teachers and students wishing to develop a natural area on their school grounds. Before starting such a project there needs to be some effort put into learning about various habitats so that wise choices are made. This requires information about basic biology. Only after making some basic decisions can the group turn to the “how to” resources. I recommend that you begin with the Learning Grounds web site then go on to the others that seem most relevant to your project. Learning Grounds Program A site about turning school grounds into “Natural Schools” learning environments. An excellent source of ideas and “how to do it” instructions for teachers and their students. This is a Canadian site but most of the information is suitable for all of North America. http://www.evergreen.ca Environmental Education Link on the Internet A site maintained by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Full of resources for all kinds of projects and information about the environment. http://eelink.net/pages/EE-Link+Introduction Kids! Renew America The Renew America organization has various programs for environmental protection. This particular page focuses on projects for children. http://solstice.crest.org/environment/renew_america/mainkids2.htm National Audubon Society This site maintained by the National Audubon Society has links to many educational resources including Kidspace (A Kid's Guide to Habitat at Home), Plants for Birds and Wildlife, Finding Your Ecological Address, and more. These and other links will help you in the planning stages for your natural area. http://www.audubon.org National Wildlife Federation This site is very rich in links to educational resources. Create a Schoolyard Habitat is especially useful. Information for all grade levels. http://www.nwf.org/education/ Sierra Club This site focuses on conservation of natural resources. Maintained by one of the oldest and best-known environmental protection groups. No practical suggestions for developing your natural area but a good place to gain awareness of environmental issues. http://www.sierraclub.org/ |
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| Ohio's Natural Areas It is very important for Ohio students to learn more about the ecology of their home state. The same principle holds for students in every state but since this web site is based in Ohio, we will focus on Ohio's natural areas. Edge of Appalachia Preserve A large nature preserve in southern Ohio owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy and the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. http://www.cincymuseum.org/explore_our_sites/edge_appalachia/ Governor's Residence It may seem surprising to list the Ohio Governor's Residencce as one of Ohio's Natural Areas but Hope Taft has assembled a team of experts who are transforming the grounds of the Governor's Residence into a "celebration of our state's diverse landscape." A great place for a field trip! http://www.governorsresidence.ohio.gov Highlands Nature Sanctuary A large and beautiful nature preserve in southern Ohio. http://www.highlandssanctuary.org Ohio Department of Natural Resources Information about all of the State Nature Preserves, State Forests, and many Educational Materials. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/ Ohio Nature Conservancy A group of private donors dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment. http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/ |
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Virtual InvestigationsGreat Plant Escape"Help Detective LePlant and his helpers Bud and Sprout unlock the mysteries of plant life." A wonderful interactive site that includes rich resource information about plants and hands-on activities using simple materials. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/ |
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ApplesApples are one of the most important fruits grown in North America. Students really should know something about the botany of an apple. But this site is more concerned with the apple as a model for studying plant development.McIntosh Apple Poster
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| Carnivorous Plants
Students are fascinated by carnivorous plants, sometimes called insectivorous plants. There is a lot of biology to be learned from them. For example, like all green plants, they are able to make their own food by photosynthesis. They do not capture the insects for food (a source of energy). In most environments plants and animals die, their mineral nutrients are returned to the environment by decay organisms, and the minerals are then absorbed by plants that reincorporate the minerals into their own molecules. The bogs (and fens) that are homes to the carnivorous plants do not support thriving populations of the decay organisms so the minerals do not get recycled in the normal way. Carnivorous plants are unable to get enough nitrogen from the soil so through complex evolutionary changes in their leaf structures they are able to trap and digest insects. Proteins of the insects' bodies are rich in nitrogen and the carnivorous plants can use this nitrogen for their own purposes. So the Venus Flytrap (and others) are making sugars and starches used for energy but are trapping insects as a source of mineral nutrients, in this case nitrogen. The following sites tell this story and some of them are also sources of instructions for growing carnivorous plants in a terrarium. Listing the vendors here does not constitute an endorsement by this author or of Ohio State University. Carnivorous
Plant
Database Carnivorous Plants
& Supplies
- Peter Pauls Nurseries Galleria
Carnivora International
Carnivorous
Plant Society Homepage The
Mysterious
Venus' Flytrap |
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| Poinsettias
Dowds Elementary School in Shelby, Ohio has a poinsettia project in Autumn. The students raise poinsettia plants in their school greenhouse then distribute them in the community at Christmas time.The children learn about plant propagation, optimal growing conditions for plants, environmental conditions triggering the flowering process, and even about plant diseases. These are some web sites I recently recommended to them in support of their project. DWK Are
Poinsettias Poisonous? Diagnosing
a Sick Poinsettia Flower
Structure
of Poinsettia Miracle
of the Poinsettia A
Pioneer
of Poinsettia Cultivation Poinsettia
Care in the Home Poinsettia
Day Poinsettia
Diseases Poinsettia
History and Lore The
Spurge Family Texas
Poinsettia Producer's Guide |
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PumpkinsWhat a great Autumn unit! Teachers in many kinds of schools, at many grade levels, have discovered the many kinds of lessons that can be incorporated in a pumpkin unit. From biology to math and from economics to literature there is much that people can learn from pepos!Math
Model Unit - Grade 2 - Pumpkins Pumpkin
Theme Pumpkins
and More Pump
Up the Curriculum With Pumpkins! |
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BiomesAny of these biomes could be the focus of an excellent unit of study for K-16 students. |
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Marine (Ocean)OceanographyThis site from the Office of Naval Research not only has facts about the marine biome but explains how scientists study it (oceanography). http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/ |
Tropical RainforestAmazon Conservation TeamThis group promotes biodiversity, health, and culture in the tropics. Information to support rainforest study units. http://ethnobotany.org/ Journey
into Amazonia |
TV Science ShowsDragonflyTVCreated by Twin Cities Public Television, the producer of the Emmy-winning Newton's Apple, DragonflyTV is devoted entirely to science for kids ages 9-12. It's real kids doing real science! http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/about.html Newton's Apple One of the best science shows developed for public television. Newton's Apple "offers a host of fun and interactive educational resources for home and school." Many hands-on activities. Information for teachers and students. http://www.tpt.org/newtons/ |
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Leaves, Roots, StemsLeaves, Roots, and StemsLeaves, Roots, and StemsAn information sheet (PDF) from Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (England). Describes basic structure of plant parts in two pages. http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/pdfs/b3plant.pdf LeavesAutumn LeavesA rich resource of information on photosynthesis and Autumn leaf changes in deciduous trees. http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson024.shtml Why
Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? RootsStems |
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Flowers, Fruits, SeedsFlowers, Fruits, Seeds FlowersFruitsSeeds |
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FungiFun Facts About FungiMycologists at the University of Michigan have created this site full of interesting facts, educational games, experitments, and other activities which teach young students about the interesting world of fungi. http://herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/FunFacts/factindx.htm |
| Butterfly
Biology
Butterfly
Gardens and
Habitat The Butterfly
Site How
to Make Butterfly Gardens Lepidoptera
Monarch Watch
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PhotosynthesisIlluminating Photosynthesis"The oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle and the process of photosynthesis. Also included are a few puzzlers with answers that may surprise you." A portion of the Methuselah Tree project at WGBH television. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/photosynthesis.html# |
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| Weeds
Identifying
Noxious
Weeds in Ohio Weed Gallery
Weed Science
Society of
America Weeds
Gone Wild:
Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas Weeds
of the North Central States |
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