Sustain
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Inquire
This week we are beginning our Nature in the City unit. We will start with a mini inquiry unit on trees. Here are some of the fantastic questions that arose in class last week. I will plan our curriculum around these questions.
Student Questions on Trees
How long do trees live?
What kinds of trees are there?
Why do trees grow leaves?
How were trees invented?
Why do trees die?
Why do trees live so long?
How do trees change color?
Why do some green leaves not die?
Why do trees need sun, soil and water?
How do trees carry their seeds to different places?
Why can some branches grow back and others cannot?
How do trees hold water?
How do trees grow on sidewalks?
What’s the difference between flowers and trees?
Why do they grow in the morning and not at night?
Do trees make water for us?
How many leaves do they have?
Why do leaves change color?
How do trees eat?
How do trees grow from seeds?
Why do leaves have shapes?
How does bark stick to the tree?
How do we make paper?
Is a flower a tree?
How do trees grow moss?
How heavy are they?
How can leaves fall and get around if they don’t have legs?
What size is the biggest tree on earth?
How do trees grow?
How do trees live with lightning?
How do trees live with wind?
How do trees live through fire?
How do people swing on branches without breaking them?
How do trees have vines growing on them?
How do trees grow on the street?
Are they good for the universe?
"the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work. Scientific inquiry also refers to the activities through which students develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists study the natural world."
- National Science Education Standards
Explore
Go explore nature in this warm Autumn weather.
This is a list of hikes you can access by public transportation:
Here is a link to nyc parks department newsletter. There are many nature and outdoor events available for families:
https://www.nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/77/outdoors-in-nyc-fall2014.pdf
Learn
We also began our inquiry unit on trees. All the classes made lists of questions about trees from observations in the neighborhood and schoolyard. Students practiced looking very closely at nature and finding patterns. We practiced drawing branches in preparation for our field trips outside this Thursday and Friday.