Digital Wildflower Collection

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding that organisms are diverse.
2. Students will investigate Arkansas's biodiversity using appropriate tools and technology.
3. Students will classify and name organisms using taxonomic nomenclature and dichotomous keys.
4. Students will use appropriate equipment and technology to collect information and utilize the technology to communicate their findings.

Standards and Frameworks from the Science Curriculum Frameworks for Arkansas:

1. Standard 13: Students shall use mathematics, science equipment, and technology as tools to communicate and solve life science problems

framework: NS.13.B.2; NS.13.B.3

2. Standard 7: Students shall demonstrate an understanding that organisms are diverse

framework: CDL.7.B.4; CDL.7.B.5; CDL.B.17



Lesson Plan:

Digital wildflower collection will allow the student to become familiar with native species of Arkansas while conserving the environment. The students will deepen knowledge of classification and identification of organisms. Skills will be gained in the areas of technology by using digital camera to gather data and communicating findings with images and software in Slideshow presentations and individual collections on CD. Students will be graded on collection and on two presentations.

Collection portion:

Materials for collection for each student:

Olympus FE 310 with appropriate accessories
Waist Belt Case
Composition book
Black ink pen

Procedure for collection:

1. Requirements before student collection

Students will be required to obtain the necessary training for Olympus FE 310 by attending teacher guided photography course using powerpoint provided by the mobile digital camera lab.

Students will sign a responsibility contract for camera care, use, and collection requirements.

Students will need to know taxa which are locally or nationally rare or protected.

If the student encounters a plant that is unfamiliar, it will be assumed that it is rare.

Students are to be responsible and avoid unnecessary damage to the collection site.

It will be the student's responsibility to obtain permission of the landowner if on private property.

Students will obtain necessary permits for collecting on public land, if applicable.

If the student it to discover a new plant, the appropriate conservation official will be notified.

Students will also need to know the parts of simple & compound flowers, differences between monocots & dicots, parts of flowering plants, and the parts of the seeds.

2. Actual collection: for each wild flower

The student will need to take a close up picture that shows detail of the individual flower & its parts.

Student will need to take a picture of the entire plant so the overall size of the plant can be judged in comparison to the other plants around it.

Student will need to make sure both pictures are clear with the right amount of light.

Student will record the name of the flower, place collected, and date collected in his or her notebook

Procedure for collection presentation:

Materials needed:

CD
Multimedia Lab V Software
Tool Factory Slideshow V3
Composition book data
GB xD Memory Cards with data
Computer

1. Requirements before presentation

Students are required to receive necessary training to use Multimedia Lab V Software

Students are to receive necessary training to use Slideshow V3 (to be coordinated with multimedia instructor)

2. Presentation of collection:

Students will compile all data collected into a Slideshow presentation. This will serve as their presentation and for each student's individual collection.

A. Title page

B. For each wildflower include
1. close up of the flower head
2. picture of the entire plant
3. common & scientific name for the plant
4. The date collected
5.The area where the plant was collected
6. Name of the collector
C. Only one wildflower per slide with above information

D. Each student's Slideshow and all digital data collected will be placed on CD and turned into instructor

E. Each student will choose 5 wildflowers from their Slideshow to present to the AP class.

F. As a group, AP biology students will create a Slideshow presentation of Arkansas diversity "Wildflowers" to be presented to 5th and 6th grade science students with focus on importance of conservation of native species in Arkansas. Wildflower data students compiled (collected) will be used in presentation.