Blog Assignment#3: A Hunt for Seeds to Save Species, Perhaps by Helping Them Move

Due 11/20/09 or by Monday

Read the following article: 

A Hunt for Seeds to Save Species, Perhaps by Helping Them Move 

Questions to answer:

1. What is this article about?

2. How does this article connect to what we are learning in science class?

3. What did learn from this article? 

4. What are two questions you have after reading this article or about plants in general?

Blog Assignment#2: Springing Forward Due 11/ 13/09

Before reading:(Everyone has to answer these four questions)

1. What natural events signal the beginning of spring?
2. How reliable is the date at which these events occur each year?
3. What do you think is responsible for the timing of when they occur?
4. What do you think might happen if some of these events occurred sooner or later than they traditionally have been? How might this affect the ecosystems and their inhabitants?

Read Springing Forward  
 

Discussion Questions for 6th graders:

1. The timing of some spring events is changing. What do scientists think might be responsible for the changes?
2. What might happen if there is a change in the cycles of when certain plants and animals emerge or mature?
3. Why are scientists so interested in diaries from the mid-1800s belonging to Henry David Thoreau?
4. How might changing cycles of when plants and fungi emerge affect people?
5. What is phenology? What are citizen scientists who belong to the National Phenology Network doing?

Discussion Questions for 7th graders:

1. How serious do you think it is that natural environmental cycles are changing? Is it a problem now or something to worry about only in the future? Explain your answer.
2. If you were to join the National Phenology Network, which elements of wildlife would you like to watch and report on? Why?
3. If global warming is behind the changes, what might people in your community do to help slow that warming?
4. Is there anything particularly special about changes occurring in spring? Would you expect that changes in summer, fall or winter would have similarly important impacts? Explain your answer.

Extra Credit Discussion Questions for 6th or 7th graders:

1. How might the changes that scientists have been observing affect farmers in your region? (Hint: How are farms affected by temperatures, birds, insects and other wildlife?) Give three examples of potential changes and describe why you think each would be either good or bad for these farmers.
2. What other industries or groups of professionals could be affected by major changes in the timing of when animals and plants emerge and develop? (Hint: What causes allergies? And consider people who must manage landscapes.)
3. Some insects that can’t stand cold weather may be able to move further north as climate warms. Think killer bees and fire ants. If they were to suddenly establish colonies in a northern state – like Ohio –how might this affect the economy and culture of towns in that state?