Overview: In this lesson, students will learn about the importance of agriculture in Pennsylvania. They will learn about apple orchards and the key role pollinators play in apple production. Students will learn the process from apple blossom to fruit to harvest to distribution to table. The class will demonstrate and explain the farming process to the table. Students will then get to make their own apple pie cup using math fractions to demonstrate measurement skills. Finally, Students will get to enjoy their delicious treat while learning about the human impact in agriculture.
Overview: In this lesson, students will learn about open-source data and what it means to be a citizen scientist. Students will use the app, Seek by iNaturalist to collect data at the school’s local ecosystem. Students can take and upload photos of plants and insects found outside then collaborate with other citizen scientists to determine what type of species they found. Students can also find the migration patterns of these insects and species from other collected sources of data. Students will learn the importance of using technology as a tool and as a form of communication with other informal scientists from around the world.
Overview: Students will learn about the invasive species, the Emerald Ash Borer. Students will learn how this invasive species is responsible for the deconstruction of millions of ash trees, a key plant in Pennsylvania’s ecosystem. Students will learn diverse ways to protect our ecosystem from this invasive species. Students will then make an Emerald Ash Borer decoy and design a trap to collect this specimen. Students will observe and collect data on their traps. Finally, the class will discuss variables and solutions to control this science experiment for future testing. (For best results, a prism trap located up in the tree is the common method.) However, the goal of this activity is not to collect the most E.A.B. but rather having students critically think of solutions, practice by making designs, and finding innovative solutions. Students should be given the opportunity to discuss and make their own “ideal” trap. These scientific common practices are like the role of entomologist who study solutions to problems such as invasive species.
Overview: Students will learn about the Monarch Butterfly great winter migration to central Mexico. Scientists have studied over the years the phenomenon of these amazing pollinators migrating to the same location every year. It takes two to three generations of monarch butterflies to migrate north from Mexico through the U.S. up to Canada. When returning later in the year, the monarchs develop a 'Super Generation' to make the longest leg of the journey southward, for the winter migration. Students will learn how Monarch Butterflies can migrate south not due to parent trait but rather a natural compass internal within their body. Students will design a monarch butterfly model with an inserted compass. The class will learn what a compass is and how to use one to navigate. The teacher will then guide students outside to model as the butterfly, navigating south and then north. Students will use the compass to direct its Monarch butterfly to migrate. Overall, the class will move in the same direction as Monarch butterflies do when migrating.
Overview: Students will learn about the Monarch Butterfly and their amazing wings. This species uses its wings to travel and protect itself from predators. The bright orange and district black shapes on the wings are to warn predators not to “eat me.” These wings are poisonous to digest and even though they have a beautiful appearance, they are a physical attribute to warn others. The most important key role of these wings is the natural engineering design for the ability to travel far. Given the ability to fly thousands of miles to migrate, the Monarch’s large and flexible wings give them a burst of propulsion. Students will learn how research scientists have discovered that these wings "clap" together, squeezing out the air between with such force that it thrusts them forward. Students will gain knowledge of these wings and create their own Monarch butterfly model. Students will design their wings using shapes and color. Then students will take their designed wings and tape them onto a balloon. Students will model the “clapping” motion by pushing down on the top center of the balloon, between the wings. Students will observe their designed wings “clapping” back and forth, like the Monarch when flying. Finally, students will learn that humans have studied structures of animals to mimic similar movement in many manufactured inventions such as cars, airplanes, and boats.