approved Adirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculum.org student tested
NYS Content Area Standard

ELA -Standard 3-Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.
Key Idea II-Speaking and Writing
PI 3-Students monitor and adjust their own oral and written presentations to meet criteria for competent performance

MST-Standard 4-Living Environment
 Key IdeaVIII-Individual Organisms and species change over time
PI-1: Students describe how the structures of plants and animals compliment the environment of the plant or animal.

NATIONAL STANDARDS
  • Science: Life Sciences
  • Life Skills: Thinking & Reasoning; Working with Others
  • Language Arts: Reading; Writing; Speaking & Listening
 Title: Tree Branch Mobiles
Grade Level: 2nd

Author: Margaret O'Leary &
Maureen Peroza, Tupper Lake CSD


Email: margareto@tupperlakecsd.net, maureenp@tupperlakecsd.net
 Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
___ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: Which tree is you? How can we tell one type of tree from another?

Challenge:  
In teams of four arranged with the help of your teacher, create a mobile made from the key parts of one of the four tree types common to the northern forests that you chose to study. You will be using this mobile to help you introduce your tree to the class in a presentation that you will give while standing next to your tree.

Context for this Challenge: Teachers will want to ensure the availability of a wide variety of resources
(books, field guides, posters, etc) that describe/illustrate the characteristics of different tree types
common to the Adirondacks (see Resources noted below). The teacher may also want to “coach”
students in developing their observational and differentiating skills when looking at objects that are
related but not the same. These skills will need to be honed as students compare common elements
of all trees: the whole tree, leaves, twigs, bark, and seeds.

Directions for Students: As you prepare to create the mobile for your teaching presentation, please
consider the following:
  • Using your mobile and presentation, you should share accurate information about your tree that you have identified and researched using a field guide and other materials provided by your teacher. You will be able to collect some of this information first hand when you go into the field to identify, photograph, and collect samples from your special tree.
  • During your field research you should collect samples of your tree’s branches, twigs, leaves, and seeds. These are the parts you will use to assemble your mobile. You might have to take a rubbing of your tree's bark rather than injure your tree by stripping living bark from it. You might also include a photograph of the whole tree and a card naming your tree as part of your mobile.
  • When you present your mobile and tree be sure that your facts are accurate and that you model the criteria for Quality Speaking agreed to in class and mentioned below.
  • Each group member should be prepared to teach your classmates (or parents) about two or more of the elements of your mobile.
When finished doing your own presentation and learning from others, each team member should be
prepared to identify all four of the types you’ve studied either from photograph or while walking along
a trail in the woods.

Examples of Student projects: 1, 2, 3, 4

Quality Standards:

  • Mobile is created from actual tree parts, rubbings, or photograps unique to the tree type under study.
  • Mobile includes a card naming the tree represented
  • The speakers during the tree presentation each discuss two or more parts of the mobile correctly
  • The speakers during the tree presentation model the criteria for Quality Speaking
  • All the information/facts shared in the presentation are accurate
  • Each team member can identify all four tree types common to northern forests either in photographs or in the field.
Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

   Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________                                                                     Class Period: ________
Product Author(s):
Tree Branch Mobiles
Evaluator Name(s)
 
 Observed Standard/Criteria
Possible
Points
Rating
  Mobile is created from actual tree parts, rubbings, or
photograps unique to the tree type under study   

 
  Mobile includes a card naming the tree represented
 
  The speakers during the tree presentation each discuss
two or more parts of the mobile correctly
 
  The speakers during the tree presentation model the
criteria for Quality Speaking:
 
 
  • Speak clearly
  • Use appropriate pace
  • Speak fluently using appropriate intonation, expression and emphasis
  • Use animation in the form of gestures and facial expression
  • Use appropriate props
  
  

All the information/facts shared in the presentation are accurate
    

Each team member can identify all four tree types
common to northern forests either in photographs or in the field

 
TOTALS
    

Comments: nf Northern Forest Partnership.
Book Resources:

  • "The Secret Life of Trees" by  Chiara Chevallier
  • "The Tree Identification Book" by George W.D. Symonds
  • "Trees, Leaves and Bark" by Diane L. Burns
  • "Tree"  Eyewitness Books
  • "A Tree is Growing" by Arthur Dorros
  • "Tell Me, Tree" by Gail Gibbons
  • "How the Forest Grew" by William Jaspersohn
  • "The Big Tree" by Bruce Hiscock