Lesson Three
FROM
ACORNS TO OAKS
OBJECTIVE: Students
learn how to plant an acorn and nurture it into a seedling.
They learn the special requirements that oaks have for soil, light,
temperature and water.
BACKGROUND:
Acorns mature and drop from the tree during the late summer and early
fall (August to November). Choose
acorns that are greenish brown, firm and plump.
Look for pinholes (insects). Acorns
can be stored for several weeks in the refrigerator in air tight containers or
bags. Rinse acorns before placing
in container.
PREPARATION:
Check to make sure that there are enough acorns to collect.
You will need soil and containers. They
do well in long skinny containers as they have long taproots.
ANTICIPATORY SET:
Pass out notes on growing acorns and go over information with the class
showing container preparation and acorn placement.
ACTIVITY: Class discussion on search engines and how to use them (single search engines vs. megasearch engine). Worksheet on getting to know search engines. Students follow search engine worksheet to find information on "How to Grow Acorns". Students will create an information sheet in Word on "How to Grow Acorns". Their information sheet should include collection, tree requirements (light, space, water, container type, etc.), selecting and storing acorns and the correct planting procedure. Students will complete research on the Internet using at least three search engines ( I found more sites on excite.com) and their acorn planting notes.
PROCEDURE:
CLOSURE:
Put table on the computer using excel.
Record observations each week.
EXTENSION:
Students work through Excel
Exercise to learn how to create a graph from a table. Create a graph of the seedlings growth from the table.
HOMEWORK:
Students create a care sheet for
their oak so that they can sell it at open house.
SKILLS:
OBSERVING, ANALYZING, INFERRING, ORGANIZING, COMMUNICATING