The TeachNet Project sponsored with major funding by the AT&T Learning Network,
seeks to improve student achievement by providing training, grants, networking and resource sharing to teachers at four of the Teachers Network affiliates nationwide.
www.qad.com
The World of Orchids
How it works:
Student investigate orchid care, propagation and orchid sales through Internet
research and orchid industry contacts. Students will prepare a written
report and an oral presentation to display findings. Students will develop
various technology skills to develop this project.
Assessment:
Pre-assessment
Activity
The
class discusses orchid habitat in the wild, the orchid industry and how orchids
fit into the category of agriculture. The
teacher asks questions to identify student's prior knowledge.
Monitoring
Student Progress
Class
discussions that analyze information is ongoing.
Students complete a few computer exercises and are given orchid web sites
to collect information. Students turn in research and work periodically to
demonstrate progress on projects.
Final
Assessment
(How will you know that they learned it?)
Computer
Exercises - Students download an on-line puzzle used to assess their orchid
terminology, read and respond to e-mail and research orchid information on the
Internet to create their project.
Individual Written Report- Each individual student will complete a one to two page written report on their research including source documentation.
Oral presentation - Each group will present a multi-media presentation that can include an interview or skit.
Standards:
Science
Language Arts: Writing
Strategies
Technology: Technology Tools and Resources and Research
Software or Materials Used:
Computers, printers, digital cameras and a video microscope now are available for student's use in the orchid project. Research information, a virtual field trip and role examples are available to students through the Internet. Programs utilized in the orchid project are Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and Paint. Valuable skills such as word-processing, models and maps are learned.
Keywords: Agriculture, life science, flowering plants, orchids
The
Students:
Participants consist of 7th
graders including English Learners, GATE, special and regular education
students.
Overall Value:
Integrating standards is a natural component of the Orchid Project because it addresses the scientific investigation and experimentation and life science portion of science standards. Students communicate logical connections between scientific concepts and data collected. Language arts standards are communicated through scientific tips leading to conclusions drawn from agricultural information. The computer exercises, final written report and oral presentation demonstrates a grasp of technology standards.
Details:
Subject Area: Science
Second Subject Area (if interdisciplinary): Language Arts
Starting Grade Level: 7th Grade
Tips for the Teacher:
This project is adaptable to any grade level and school environment, substituting any agricultural industry in the local community. This whole project can even been done only using the Internet. No field trip needed. Assignments can be adapted to fit a school's technology capabilities by allowing research at home and/or allowing students to work in groups..
Suzanne Squires
Los Olivos School
Email:
Suzanne has taught seventh and eighth grade science, physical education, computer applications, agriculture and art since 1996. She has Level 2 CTAP and CLAD certification and coaches boys and girls volleyball at Los Olivos School. Serving as a facilitator for the UCSB projects Science Partnership for School Innovation and Beyond The Classroom for six years helped her develop several key units using standards and technology. She is a Distinguished Educator for the County of Santa Barbara for 2003 and 2004.