Journey North International Plant Study Spring 2006

Tulip Garden Update: March 3, 2006

Today's Report Includes:

“We Can Hardly Wait for Spring”
Mapping the Green Wave of Spring
Try This! A Quick Study: Challenge Question #5
Spotlight on the Classroom
Try This! Find Fairfield, IL
Helpful Links

“We Can Hardly Wait for Spring”

Do YOU see a pattern emerging?

It's not yet St. Patrick's Day, but already we are "seeing green" when we glance at today's tulip map. An incredible 28 more gardens have emerged in the past week! How are your predictions? Is your accuracy increasing? Why so many? Is there a real pattern emerging?

So far a total of 109 gardens have emerged. The first flush of green in the garden is exciting! Second graders in Fort Wayne, IN exclaim, “Finally! Several of our bulbs have started peeking out of the ground. We can hardly wait for spring.”

When will spring come to YOUR garden?

This Week's Data (Reported Feb. 25 - March 3, 2006)

Mapping the Green Wave of Spring
Here’s a question to ponder: Does spring truly move northward? Imagine drawing the wave of spring at different stages over the next months as spring moves across the continent. Gather your map, a clear plastic transparency and the most recent tulip data for this exercise.

Does Spring “Journey” North?

Try This! A Quick Study

Average temperatures Feb. 19-25, 2006

Study today’s tulip garden map. Where are all the emerging tulip gardens? Now print the map showing average temperatures recorded last week.

Roughly sketch the emerging garden locations onto the temperature map. What do you see? Do the emerging gardens follow any pattern? How would you explain this phenomenon?
Use your journal for recording your observations. Then answer this:

Challenge Question #5:
“ Did the pattern of emerging gardens follow a pattern in the temperature map? Describe your observations.”

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Spotlight on the Classroom
North Side School in Fairfield, IL reported their tulips had emerged early--on Feb. 17th. "We’ll let you know if our plants survive the below freezing temps we are having today and those predicted for the weekend," wrote 3rd grade teacher Gayle McGehee. “Emerging sprouts measuring 5cm, some less, a few a little larger,” she continued.
As part of their scientific inquiry the students measure and observe the emerging leaves. Will the freezing temperatures allow them to grow and bloom? Keep your eye on the map!

Try This! Find Fairfield, IL

Attention geographic detectives! Here's a challenge for you. Can you find a garden located at 36.37 North latitude and 88.35 West longitude. We zoomed in to help you! Let's get started--

Map Skills: Finding Fairfield

Helpful Links

Tulip Garden Growth Chart
(List the events you will monitor this spring.)
Predicting Spring’s Arrival
(Blank map and prediction chart for students.)
Click and Print a Ready-made Student Journal
(Grade level variety available.)

The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on March 10, 2006.