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:

Image of the Week

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!"

minimum temps map
March 27-April2
Average Temperatures
Tulip Test Gardens: North America
Journey North Test Gardens: Europe, Fall 2010

handout

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.


garden data
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.

Koontz blog page
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.

Ask the Expert Still Open!
March 25 - April 8, 2011.

Bud Markhart
Tulip Test Garden Expert Dr. Bud Markhart
Related Journey North Lessons and Links
More Journey North Lessons and Teaching Ideas!
The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on April 14, 2011.