Tulip Test Gardens
Update: April 7, 2011	Please report:
It's springtime and there is a lot to wonder about the Test Garden. We have 13 years of garden data from one site in Virginia. Explore what you can do with this treasure trove. Drop in on a fantastic blog created just for the Journey North garden. Don't forget to Ask the Expert this week. Today's Report Includes: Maps, Questions, and Highlights Data Investigation: Working with Garden Data Spotlight: A Garden Blog Resources	Image of the Week
	When Will They Bloom?
Maps, Questions, and Highlights
All Eyes on the Test Garden Students are keeping a close eye on the garden. "Not all of the tulips are blooming. Just one is in full bloom and three others are showing red. 29 more to bloom!" reported gardeners this week from Saint Peters, Missouri. The weather has kept the students at Regency Place Elementary in Olathe, Kansas busy. "On Sunday, April 3rd, our area had a temperature of over 80 degrees. Later that night, the temperature plummeted and we experienced high winds, rain, and hail. Many of our tulips were damaged." They also report "critters" feasting on stems leaves and even their tulip bulbs. Spring fever has struck in the Test Garden. Warm weather spurred tulips to bloom in Waynesboro, Virginia this week. Teacher Danny Lee reported, "When I collected my students from recess, they were all lining the fence looking at the tulips rather than playing!" March 27-April2 Average Temperatures See all the New Garden Highlights map/sightings (North America) map/sightings (Eurasia) This Week's Map Questions Handout
Data Investigation: Working With Garden Data
As you make observations in your own Test Gardens, you begin to see how seasonal climatic factors influence plant growth. The relationship between geography, temperature, and the arrival of spring is revealed right before your eyes. What can you do with the data from your Test Garden? Let's explore one set of data. Record Keeping in the Journey North Garden	Garden data: 13 years in Children's Learning Garden
Spotlight on the Garden Blog
Joe Koontz, Assistant Principal of Rivers Edge Elementary, Henrico County Public Schools, uses an interactive blog to engage students with challenge questions and invite other schools to be Test Garden partners. Mr. Koontz and teacher Brooke Stumbo post questions related to making predictions, setting up experiments, and factors involved with garden experiments. Students write their ideas, and the teachers reply with more challenges and encouragement. Take a look at this excellent blog. 4th Grade Tulip Garden Blog	Tulip Scientists at Work! That's the title for this week's blog topic at Rivers Edge Elementary. The blog is receiving the "Henrico 21" award which highlights projects exemplify 21st Century learning.
Ask the Expert
Special thanks to Dr. Bud Markhart for sharing his time and expertise to answer your questions! You still have a few days left to prepare and submit your questions to Dr. Markhart. Study this poster for inspiration. Submit your questions until April 8 Ask the Expert Still Open! March 25 - April 8, 2011.	Tulip Test Garden Expert Dr. Bud Markhart
Related Journey North Lessons and Links
Explore: Working with Garden Data Explore: Map the Green Wave of Spring Art: O'Keeffee and the Unexpected Beaury of Spring Study: Isotherms: Bands of Temperature Color Mapping Spring Data: Lessons and Resources Questioning: Making Sense of Journey North Maps Helpful Weather Links: Climate Weather and Seasons Tulip Garden Journals (click-and-print)
More Journey North Lessons and Teaching Ideas!
The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on April 14, 2011. Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.