ORCHID TERMINOLOGY

OBJECTIVE: Students learn or review navigation of the Internet. Orchid terminology is learned and assessed via an on-line orchid puzzle. After completion of this lesson students will be familiar with general orchid terminology.

TIME REQUIRED: Two 60 minute class period to download, print and complete the puzzle. More time may be needed if the puzzle is broken up into parts..

BACKGROUND: Students should be familiar with the school computers and able to navigate to the Internet so that they can find and print the vocabulary puzzle..

ADVANCED PREPARATION: Give students a list of the orchid vocabulary terms and their definitions. Students then make flashcards with these vocabulary words to study.

ANTICIPATORY SET: Using a real orchid plant go over the terms using the plant to explain each word and definition making it easier for student's to visualize the vocabulary words. Teacher then hands out orchid notes and discusses them with the class.

ACTIVITY: Students study vocabulary words in class and at home. Students navigate to www.aos.org, print out the puzzle "What are orchids?" and work on it. The puzzle is then used to assess the student's familiarity of orchid vocabulary terms.

PROCEDURE:

  1. Teacher reminds students how to look for a specific web page on the web.

  2. Teacher makes sure that all students follow instructions directly and that they don't go ahead of the class.

  3. Students navigate to www.aos.org .

  4. Students find the orchid web puzzle games and click on it.

  5. Then, students find the puzzle named "What is an orchid?" and click on it.

  6. When the puzzle appears, the first page of the puzzle is printed only.

CLOSURE: Students work on the puzzle using the definitions to complete the puzzle. When the puzzle is completed, students turn it in to the teacher for a grade.

EXTENSION: There are more puzzles on the American Orchid Society site. Students can work on more puzzles to gain more specific knowledge about specific orchid species and potting orchids. Also, students should be given time in class to study their vocabulary flashcards.

HOMEWORK: Students will need to study their orchid vocabulary flashcards at home in order to be ready for the puzzle quiz.

SKILLS: MEMORIZATION, INFERRING, ORGANIZING, COMMUNICATING, APPLYING LEARNED KNOWLEDGE

EVALUATION: Depending on your grade level, some of these terms can be difficult. I find that you can give them some of the terms that are too difficult or make them extra credit. There are thirty vocabulary words on this puzzle so you might want to break up the studying and vocabulary into three parts. For instance, have them memorize and do #1-10, #11-20 and #21-30. Grade each part as they complete the section. The puzzle can still be added as a total score (30 point quiz).

ASSESSMENT: There is no rubric for this lesson as it is graded strictly as a quiz grade.

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIALS