Project Overview-
All 8th grade students will create a wildflower
collection of local varieties of wild growing indigenous and introduced
wildflower species. Each specimen will be pressed, dried, identified,
indexed and bound into a booklet format that is suitable for reference
use. This will be a major portion of the 4th marking period grade.
Due to the nature of this project and the continuous
ongoing blooming of differing varieties of wildflowers (wild blooming flowers),
it will be necessary for students to engage in collecting activities on
a routine basis (three to four times a week for the duration of the project).
Students are urged to start their collecting process
as soon as possible. Identification of specimens is best completed
prior to picking, soon after picking or soon after pressing, each.
Students are urged to be aware of varieties that may be endangered or a
species of concern in their range. This information will be available
on the Middle School's 8th Grade Web Site. We should not run into
many.
Web Resources-
Useful Books/Guides-
A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Northeastern and North-central
North America, Houghton Mifflin Company.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers,
Eastern Region, Knopf Publisher.
Newcombs's Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company.
Student Guidelines-
Students should use the following guidelines in order to make their
collection the best it possibly can:
1 PRESSING: The process of pressing will be discussed
in class and demonstrated. Specimens should be whole and include
one or two leaves of the plant in order to facilitate identification.
Many flowers are similar however leaves may be different depending upon
species.
2 DRIED: Drying will take care of itself if the
pressing process is completed in the appropriate manner. If incorrectly
dried or pressed, specimens may begin to decompose.
3 IDENTIFICATION: Identification is best accomplished
when wildflowers are fresh. Use of a taxonomic key, field guide or
wildflower identification book will help you the best. These can
be found in the classroom or local library where many have been placed
on hold. Students may want to acquire their own copy of such a book
or guide. Each specimen should have the following information on
it's page (example included):
Common name: Wild Columbine
Scientific name: Aquilegia canadensis
Location collected: Forest edge, road side…
Locale of specimen: Andover, NJ
Date of collection: May 15, 2000
4 INDEX: An alphabetical Table of Contents by common
name that also indicates the scientific name and page number where the
specimen is located within the collection booklet.
5 BOUND BOOKLET: A notebook or photo album type
book that would best display your dried and pressed specimens. Planning
will best assist you in accomplishing this portion of the task. The
specimens may be grouped alphabetically, by color, by habitat, date of
collection, etc.
6 TIMELINESS: All projects must be turned in on
time. See below.
It is recommended that students collect specimens with a partner, family
member and/or a group of friends. Group collection will facilitate
the entire collection process and make the process a social as well as
a learning experience.
All aspects mentioned above will be including in the grading process
including the total number of wildflowers collected and accurately identified.
The total weight will be that of a double test grade, activity grade (quiz
weight) and a homework assignment.
36 wildflowers = A+
35 " " = A
32 " " = B
29 " " = C
26 " " = D
<25 " " = F
As with all projects there is a due date. Due to the fact
that it is so near to the end of the school year it is imperative that
all projects be turned in on or before the due date. Limited class
time, several after school sessions as well as GAIN periods will be accessible
for collection and assistance using field guides.
In order to assist students in the completion of this project
it is important that their parents or guardians are aware of the requirements
of this project. To that end it is imperative that a parent or guardian
sign this requirement sheet to varify that they understand the extent of
this project. The signature will be worth a QUIZ GRADE for the 4th
marking period. It will be due tomorrow (4/20/01) for 100%, Monday
(4/23/01) for 85%, Tuesday (4/24/01) for 70%, …etc.
Good luck, and happy hunting!
Due date: Thursday,May 24 |