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Tulip Garden Update: December 7, 2001
Today's Report Includes:
- A Growing Number of Gardens!
- Netherland Bulb Company Makes Donation
- Did We Skip Winter? Challenge Question #6
- Plan to Measure Winter Soil Temperatures
- Predicting the Arrival of Spring--Again and Again!
- Finding a Global Partner for Journey North Classroom Exchange
- Challenging Questions- Discussion of Challenge Question #4
- Do You See a Pattern? Discussion of Challenge Question #5
A Growing Number of Gardens!
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- Link to This Month's Garden Data
You can read all the wonderful comments these gardeners have sent (press the "owl button" and follow instructions), but here are a few.
Classical Academy Charter School in Clifton, NJ: "The 6th grade at Classical Academy is excited about planting our first Journey North tulip garden. We planted 50 controls and 70 experimental bulbs (some upside down, some sideways, some shallower and some closer together). In addition, we plan to dissect some of our bulbs and maybe start a few indoors as well. We have squirrels, deer, groundhogs and wild turkeys among our neighbors, so our garden is covered with chicken wire. We're really looking forward to seeing the results of all our hard work in the spring! "
Armada Early Elementary School in Armada, MI: "A wonderful day. All students and parents are excited about this project - we all can't wait until spring. This is a great way to begin our new garden club."
Furman Middle School in Sumter, SC: "We planted our tulip garden on 11/27/01. We had our sixth grades participating. Mrs. Jenkins', Ms. McLeod's and Mr. Swygert's students all participated in planting 200 bulbs. We are looking forward to watching them bloom in the spring. We are then going to write about our experiences and about spring and take the booklets and the flowers to a nearby nursing home and share our knowledge and joy with elderly folks in our community."
Netherland Bulb Company Makes Donation
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Luckily, because it was a holiday, most were home and away from the immediate site of the crash. It is however, a small community and no one can avoid this terrible scar in the middle of it, both physically and emotionally.
In a beautiful gesture of sympathy the Netherland Bulb made a donation of 250 Red Emperor Tulips to PS 114 for a community garden. We all hope that this bright spot of springtime color will provide some healing power for the great losses this community has suffered.
Predicting the Arrival of Spring--Again and Again!
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Prediction is an important science skill. As you learn more and more about seasonal change, geography, and climate you'll become more skilled at predicting spring's arrival.
The lesson "Predicting the Arrival of Spring" guides you through a cycle of research and prediction. As the school year progresses, predict when you think tulips will bloom at Journey North's 13 "Original" Garden sites. (Note: The 13 "Original" sites were selected because they represent different climatic regions across the northern hemisphere. You can think of them as designated observation posts where spring's arrival has been monitored each year since Journey North began.)
- Lesson: Predicting the Arrival of Spring
Begin now with the seven research questions below. You can record your predictions throughout the school year on the "Prediction Chart" that's provided. Make a new prediction each time you complete one of the 7 research questions. When Journey North begins in the Spring, continue to revise your predictions each month, as you analyze data from hundreds of school gardens across the hemisphere.
Research Questions
# 1: What things make plants grow?
# 2: When do tulips bloom in your home town?
# 3: What is the climate at each of the "Original" Garden sites?
# 4: How long is the growing season at each Original Garden site?
# 5: In which "Plant Hardiness Zone" is each Original Garden site located?
# 6: Does Teale's quote help you predict spring's arrival at each Original site?
# 7: Final Pre-Season Predictions
Did We Skip Winter?
Record-breaking warm temperatures across much of North America made November feel like September in many places, and now we continue with record breaking heat in early December. How does this warm fall weather affect our native plants and trees? Are they easily tricked into thinking it is spring? Take a walk outside and look closely at the plants in your neighborhood. Take a look at your tulip plantings and then see if you can answer this challenge question-
Challenge Question #6
"It has been as warm as spring in many places, so why aren't the tulips emerging and blooming yet, or are they?" (You're welcome to dig up a bulb or two and tell us what's happening underground!)
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.)
Plan to Measure Winter Soil Temperatures
We are soon approaching the deepest, darkest time of the year. What do you suppose will happen underground, when air temperatures drop lower and lower? Students can find out using a very simple soil thermometer. "I didn't know you could take the Earth's temperature!" exclaimed one excited student when she saw one. Plan now, before the soil freezes, to place a thermometer in the garden bed.
Where to Purchase a Soil Thermometer:
To purchase a soil temperature thermometer contact Weatherama (612-432-4315). Ask for their simple soil thermometer that sells for about $14.00. It has a 4" metal probe with a disk at the top that gives the temperature readings in 5-degree intervals.
Avoid Theft: Unfortunately, many teachers have had problems with theft and vandalism.
Therefore, do not leave your thermometer outside. Using the thermometer's probe, make a hole in the soil. Put a
drinking straw into the hole so it will remain open when the soil freezes. Cover the hole with a coffee can so
it will not be buried under the snow.
Finding a Global Partner for Journey North Classroom Exchange
Echo Lake Elementary School in Richmond, VA has discovered another classroom to exchange their information with. They write, "We planted our tulips on Friday, 11/16, in a bed out front of our school. We planted sixty tulips, 20 more than last year's class planted. We are communicating with another class and exchanging data about our tulips. What fun!"
You can also meet another class to share with! To find a global partner see:
- Link to Journey North Classroom Exchange
Challenging Questions
Discussion of Challenge Question #4
In our November update we asked you to try investigating growing some bulbs indoors. In Challenge Question #4 we asked, "How could you experiment with indoor bulbs, so that their roots grow to different sizes? Do you think flowers with different sized roots will grow faster, as well as being bigger?"
Of course you will need to pull up the bulbs to determine root size. Keep these questions in mind as you watch and record your bulbs growth in the classroom. Make your predictions and then, when the bulb has bloomed, dig it up and see how close you came to predicting correctly!
Do You See a Pattern?
Discussion of Challenge Question #5
You'll be busy mapping today's data, but we hope you had time to consider Challenge Question #5. Was there a pattern between geographic location and planting date? With our warmer than normal fall weather there may not be a really clear pattern emerging. If you look closely you can see a trend in the planting order. The pattern shows earlier plantings in the northern part of continent. As we moved through November, more of the southern and coastal areas were digging in. Why do you think we saw this order?
How to Respond to Today's Challenge Question
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-tulip@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #6.
3. In the body of the message, answer the question above.
The Next Tulip Garden Update Will be Posted on February 8
Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form
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