FINAL
Tulip Garden Update: May 12, 2006
Today's Update Includes:
- This Week's Tulip Garden Data
- Creative Assessment: A Teacher Shares Book Ideas
- Wrapping it Up: Portfolios Unfold in Ithaca
- A Moose Got Loose
- Heads Up, Teachers
- Eagle View Nature Center
- A Big Thank You
- Year-End Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts!
This Week's Map and Data
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This seasons final map still shows some gardens yet to show red. As nature often teaches us, factors beyond our control can change the outcome of an experiment. As always some gardens didn't get a chance to bloom, but lessons are always learned and there is always next year! And remember, all is not a failure. For some budding scientists this could just be the start!
Since May 5, 4 more tulip gardens were reported EMERGED, and 8 tulip gardens reported BLOOMING.
- This Week's Data (Reported May 5 - 12, 2006)
- Slideshow (Week-by-week animation)
Creative Assessment: A Teacher Shares Book Ideas
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Alton
Central School student in the garden. |
At Alton Central School in Alton, NH first graders are publishing their own tulip assessment books. With help from their teachers each student created a permanent record of this year’s tulip project complete with labels, drawings, measurements and photographs.
Find out more from teacher Laura Dwyer as she shares how to make this wonderful assessment record.
Wrapping it Up: Portfolios Unfold in Ithaca
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A student-made
organizer |
Fifth Graders at Belle Sherman Elementary in Ithaca, NY presented their tulip project using small, home-made portfolios. The beauty of these student-made organizers is they become a collection place AND a reflection of their year-long involvement in a science project much bigger than their own classroom.
A Moose Got Loose
Dateline: April 26, 2006, Journey North Garden at Gustavus School, Gustavus, Alaska
| You may remember how sixteen 1st-5th grade students in a small school in rural Alaska planted 100 tulip bulbs on the afternoon of 11/01/05. We wondered whether they were planting too late in the season and how this might affect their tulips in the spring. They surprised us all when on 04/01/06 they reported the first Alaskan garden to emerge...(just as their class predicted!). |
Latest News from Gustavus:
“We wanted to report that on April 26th moose ate the leaves and flower stalks, of the 100 tulips that had emerged (but not yet bloomed) in our Journey North Garden. We didn't know how to report this event to the other tulip gardeners since it is a garden "failure" and the tulips, while they did emerge, we are confident that none of them will bloom. We have photos of our tulip garden the day before the moose discovered it, with repeat photography the next day that show the chewed off leaves.”
Was this garden a “failure?” Yes or no, or maybe? Make a list of things to support your argument.
Also, will the tulips survive to bloom next year? Teacher Ellie Sharman wonders, “The students and I also have one question. Assuming the moose don't return for more foraging, do the tulips have a chance of blooming next year if their flowers stalks and leaves were eaten this year? The bulbs and about 2 inches of chewed off leaves remain in the ground.”
How would you answer their question?
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Journey North Garden |
Spring has sprung! Eagle View Nature Center is in bloom. Take a visit to this Northern garden and nature center located within the school grounds in Pequot Lakes, MN. In addition to Red Emperor Tulips grown each year for the Journey North Tulip Garden project they have many growing beds, ponds with Canada geese, wild ducks, tame ducks, etc. They also plant and tend a 150 square foot garden. In the fall the students sell produce they have grown.
Heads Up, Teachers! Science Standards and the Tulip Study
Are you thinking ahead to science plans for the next school year? Don't miss our Standards Chart for the Journey North Tulip Study:
A Big Thank You
This year we celebrate the largest garden experiment in Journey North history. Over 400 of you planted tulips this season to help us better understand how spring moves across the continent. Thank you to each and every one of you!
Take a quick look at the tulip map today – can you find places where you’d like to see a garden join the experiment next year? Spread the word to help us open the map to more gardens in the central and northern regions of North America and Europe!
Year-End Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts!
Please take a few minutes to share your suggestions and comments in our Year-End Evaluation. The information you provide is critical for planning new initiatives and for improving Journey North.
Also, as a free program supported by a generous grant from Annenberg Media, we want to be able to document Journey North's reach, impact and value. THANK YOU!
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Journey
North |
This is the FINAL Tulip Garden Update for Spring, 2006.
Thank you for participating and sharing your ideas in the best season yet for the Journey North Tulip Garden Study!
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