Developers:

Crystal Klein, Al Widrowicz

Guiding Questions:

How are/were plants used by people?

What is data?

What is a good plant sample?

What is a good plant population sample?

How do you use statistics in science?

Projected Timeline:

Fall Semester 2003

Learning Goals:

Collect, identify, and press 35 plants.

present plant collection to Ms. Klein and

Mr. Widrowicz

 Standards:

• Nebraska Standards Mathematics:

12.5.1 select a sampling techniques to gather data, analyze the resulting data and make inferences

12.5.2 write equations and make predictions from sets of data

12.5.3 apply theoretical probability to represent problems, and make decisions

12.5.5 interpret data represented by the normal distribution and formulate conclusions

12.5.6 calculate probabilities of independent events

12.5.7 express the equivalent forms of numbers using fractions, decimals, and percents

12.2.1 solve theoretical and applied problems using numbers in equivalent forms: fractions,decimals, and percents

• Nebraska Standards Science: 

 12.1.1 develop an understanding of systems, order, and organization

12.1.2 develop an understanding of evidence, models, and explanations

12.1.3 develop an understanding of change, constancy, and measurement

12.1.4 develop an understanding of form and function

12.1.5 develop an understanding of change over time

12.2.1 develop the abilities needed to do a scientific inquiry

12.3.5 develop an understanding of the conservation of energy and increase in disorder

12.4.3 develop an understanding of the theory of biological evolution

12.4.4 develop an understanding of the interdependence of organisms

12.4.5 develop an understanding of matter, energy, and organization of living system

12.6.1 develop an understanding of technological design

12.7.2 develop an understanding the effects of population change

12.7.3 develop an understanding of natural resources

12.7.4 develop an understanding of environmental quality

12.8.1 develop an understanding of science as an human endeavor

12.8.2 develop an understanding of nature of scientific knowledge

Projects/Activities for advanced science

1. Collect, identify, and press 35 plants

2. Present plant collection to Ms. Klein

3. Read "My Side of the Mountain" write book report

4. Collect 5 sets of good data from 4 different sites

- football field Aug. 26

-small baseball field Aug. 28

-north hill Sept. 2

-powwow grounds Sept. 4

5. Find and identify 25 plants in a 1 hour field test

6. Make a collage and prepare a report on one of the design principles

7. Prepare plant collection for

In the Math part of the class they are doing all their graphs, and getting ready to analyze their data they collected. They are graphing their plant information were they sampled.

For the science they are finishing their colleges. Also they are starting a new book. They went out to the four sites and collected their plant's that they needed to sample. Now they are getting ready to work on their portfolio's.

Learning Goals:

Students will know:

• How to identify plants common to the Omaha Indian Reservation
• How to collect, prepare, and label plant samples
• What plants are traditionally used by the Omaha Indians, how they are prepared, where they are located, and what they look like
• The interactions that occur in and the factors that effect an ecological community
• How to collect and analyze meaningful data
• How to distinguish the difference between discrete and continuous data
• How to organize data using frequency charts, stem-leaf plots, and other tables
• How to display data by using line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, and spreadsheets
• How to calculate probabilities of independent events
• What a normal distribution is
• How to find probability from normal distribution information
• Correlation and its relationship to sets of data
• How to make predictions given regression line equation
• How to find a regression line quotation based upon analysis of sets of data
• How to test a hypothesis

Projects description:

• Plant Collection: Each student will collect, press, and approximately label 35 plant samples. Reflection on what makes a good plant sample will be included along with a title page and table of contents
• Read, summarize and reflect on My Side of the Mountain by Jean George Craighead.
• Produce 3-5 page papers on the topics "Student Statistical Analysis of Plant Samples"
• Collect meaningful plant population data at a minimum o four different sites.
• Analyze plant population data using Microsoft Excel showing how statistics is useful to math and science.
• Read, summarize, and reflect on Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
• Complete an ethnobotanical report on at least four plants traditionally used by the Omaha Indians that will be used to compile a book.
• Maintain a class portfolio.
• Write an analytical comparison of My Side of the Mountain and Hatchet.

Kickoff:

Bring several different kinds of medicines and ask the students what is in medicine. Discuss, question, ect.. Then show them all the different kinds of plants there are. Let then look, touch , and tear a part the different plants. talk about how plants are traditionally used.

Fieldwork, Resources, Service

• North Hill
• Pow-wow Grounds
• Football Field
• Ethnobotanical Book
• Small baseball field

Service

• Ethnobotanical book
• Trash pickup while collecting plants

 Ongoing assessment:

• Attendance
• Participation
• Efficiency

Final Assessment/Assessing student's Overall Achievement:

• completion of Ethnobotany book
• Book reports and analytical comparison on Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain
• Production of a research papers
• Completion of data analysis projects
• Plant collection and presentation
• Portfolio and presentation
• Written reflections

 Resourses-Books/Experts:

• Supplies: Economy plant press, Blotting paper, Ventilators, Mountain