Date: November 3, 1999

Grade Level(s): 3, 4, 5

Subject(s):

• Science/Botany

Description: There are distinguishing characteristics of deciduous and coniferous trees. Students will learn through a hands-on approach about these characteristics.

Goals: To learn the distinguishing characteristics of coniferous and deciduous trees.

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to explain the difference between deciduous and coniferous trees.
2. Students will be able to make a prediction according to prior knowledge then fix (if needed) their prediction according to new knowledge.
3. This lesson will address the NSES Standards of Science as Inquiry: Physical Science: Trees.
4. Previous Knowledge: Students need to know different kinds of trees found in Montana (at least more than 2).
 

Materials:

1. Grab bag items: pencil, magazine, wooden spoon, aluminum foil, cork, cosmetics, plastic comb
2. Tree Samples: Maple, Ponderosa Pine, Cotton Wood, Douglas Fur, Apsen

Procedure:

During the first activity students will be choosing an object out of the grab bag and deciding whether or not it comes from a tree. Now have students tell the rest of the class if their object comes from a tree and if so what part of the tree?

Each group will be given a different picture at the beginning of the lesson, have the class predict which group their picture belongs in. Do you know where to place your tree? What are some characteristics that helped you decide?

In your groups look at the 5 samples of trees you were given. Which sample belongs in the deciduous group and which belongs in the coniferous group? Does everyone in the group agree? If not, discuss why you don’t think the tree belongs in the specific group. Now have students divide their paper in half. Label one side deciduous and the other side coniferous. After discussion paste the samples on either side.

Now we will look at the posters the students have created. Ask students to share their results with the class. Which tree belongs in the deciduous side of the paper? Which trees belong in the coniferous side of the paper? Explain to the class why you think this. Does the class agree or disagree?

Have students identify the type of tree in the picture their group received at the beginning of class. Are they able to do this after the lesson? Was their prediction correct or incorrect? If it was incorrect are they able to fix their mistake?

Assessment:

The students will demonstrate science understanding by:
1. Explain/ discuss with classmates the model the group organized.
2. Explain if their first prediction of the picture was correct or incorrect and why?

Useful Internet Resources:
* Deciduous Trees
http://www.kids.organics.org/deciduous.htm

* Coniferous Trees
http://www.kids.organics.org/coniferous.htm

* Tree Identification
http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/tree/

* What Comes From Trees?
http://www.freenetwork.org/kids/comes_from_trees.html