Abstract
Plants are often overlooked or ignored entirely in K-12 classrooms. This chapter provides background information about the idea of “plant blindness,” which attempts to explain why botanical education is neglected, and why we humans have so much trouble “seeing” plants. We suggest that plants can be an integral part of life science education, and that giving teachers and students the chance to learn about and explore plant life in their communities will enhance their environmental awareness and sense of place. To this end, we make a case for giving teachers and students the skills they need to learn about the plants around them, including scientific nomenclature, evolution, and ecology. Included in the chapter are ideas for how to use nature-based outdoor experiences to teach about the environment, with an emphasis on National Science Education Standards and Environmental Education goals.
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Appendix 1: Botanical Lessons and Lesson Source Ideas
Appendix 1: Botanical Lessons and Lesson Source Ideas
Hopefully, we have convinced you to start teaching about and with plants. In order to capitalize on your enthusiasm, here are some lessons and resources. The resources meet some or all of the objectives described in the chapter. Our intention is to provide teachers and teacher educators with many ideas and options; however, this is by no means an all-inclusive list. The Botanical Society of America (http://www.botany.org) maintains a list of web links and resources, and that is another great place to look.
Plant Curricula (Aligns to National Science Education Standards)
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American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) “Biodiversity Counts” http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/biocounts/ Has plant identification lessons at http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/biocounts/plant_id.php Plant ecology curriculum materials for grades 6–12 online at: http://www.amnh.org/education/resources/biocounts/ecology.php
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Botanical Society of America’s PlantingScience http://www.plantingscience.org This project connects teachers, students, and plant scientists with a venue to connect and develop relationships. Includes inquiry units (“The wonder of seeds” and “The Power of Sunlight”) for middle- and high-school classrooms where students can follow the science process by engaging in real research.
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C-Fern®: Using Ceratopteris richardii to teach about plants. http://c-fern.org Lessons and ordering information.
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FOSS modules http://www.delta-education.com/science/foss/scopesequence.shtml “Tree” (K); “New Plants” (Grades 1–2); “Plants and Animals” (1–2); “Insects and Plants” (1–2)
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Literature in the Garden http://www.jmgkids.us/index.k2?did=11882§ionID=2013 Elementary curriculum that incorporates children’s literature with garden activities designed by Junior Master Gardener program
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Project Learning Tree ® http://www.plt.org Pre K-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide.
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The Private Eye http://www.the-private-eye.com Activities use loupes, observation, and “thinking by analogy” to help students get out, increase their sense of wonder, and explore nature.
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Wisconsin Fast Plants ® http://www.fastplants.org Brassica rapa plants that are especially fast cycling, for use in the classroom. Lessons and ordering information.
Plant Classification Guides and Phylogeny Resources
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Tree World http://www.domtar.com/ARBRE/english/index.asp ( Designed for 4–6 grade students. Includes a simple online tree identification dichotomous key, and quizzes to test your students’ tree ID skill.
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The Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG): The Unseen Garden. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/unseengarden/unseengarden1.shtml Includes information on systematics and how scientists study plants.
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Missouri Botanical Garden and University of Missouri’s Angiosperm phylogeny Web site. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/welcome.html Very extensive taxonomy resource.
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Tree of Life web project http://www.tolweb.org/tree/ Phylogeny and phylogenetic trees.
Latin and Legends: Plant Names and How They Got Them
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Barnette, M. (2005). A Garden of Words. Lincoln, NE: ASJA Press.
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Virginia Tech (dendrology): The meanings of Latin names http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/meanings.cfm
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Wells, D. & Patterson, I. (1997). 100 Flowers and how they got their names. New York, NY: Algonquin.
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Wildflower name origins http://www.wildflowerinformation.org/WildflowerNames.asp Includes information on common names, botanical names, and brief description of systematics.
Other Good Resources for Teaching Outside and About Plants
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Photographic Atlas of Plant Anatomy http://botweb.uwsp.edu/anatomy/
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Exploratorium: Science of Gardening. http://www.exploratorium.edu/gardening/feed/index.html Interactive videos and information on composting, carnivorous plants, garden vegetables, and soil science.
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Grissino-Mayer, H. D. (University of TN-Knoxville) “Ultimate Tree-Ring Web Pages” http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/ Information on dendrochronology.
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Plants in Motion http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/starthere.html Indiana University-based web site includes many good time-lapse photography movies (QuickTime) so that your students can see that plants really do move.
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Avoid misconceptions when teaching about plants with this D.R. Hershey (2004) article available online at: http://www.actionbioscience.org/education/hershey.html
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More misconceptions to avoid when teaching about with this D.R. Hershey (2005) article available online at: http://www.actionbioscience.org/education/hershey3.html Junior
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Master Gardener Program http://www.jmgkids.us/ Part of 4-H, information, lessons, and instructions on starting your own JMG group (includes ordering information for several curricula, including Wildlife gardener, literature in the garden, health and nutrition from the garden).
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Frisch, J.K., Unwin, M.M., Saunders, G.W. (2010). Name That Plant! Overcoming Plant Blindness and Developing a Sense of Place Using Science and Environmental Education. In: Bodzin, A., Shiner Klein, B., Weaver, S. (eds) The Inclusion of Environmental Education in Science Teacher Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9222-9_10
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