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Earthworks
Earth System Science for Secondary Teachers
South Park? - Nah! Naylor's Run Park: A study of species diversity and canopy cover in Naylor's Run.
Learning Objectives:
- To gain an appreciation of the diversity of N.R.P. and what influences that diversity.
- To observe and generate questions about N.R.P.
- To create hypothesis about park diversity
- To understand the impact of various factors (location, light, moisture, etc.)
Where:
- Naylor's Run Park adjacent to Upper Darby High School, Upper Darby, PA.
- Four locations:
- Upland forest slope, facing SE, heavily forested,
- Upland forest slope, facing NE, heavily forested,
- Wet bottom land forest, ~ NW, forest and wetland, stream,
- Dry upland slope, SW facing, forest and open areas.
Who: Environmental science, 11-12 grade, ~25-20 students.
What:
- Each park section will be studied by 3-4 groups of 2-3 students/group.
- After introduction to field methods, groups can choose method to use (transect, quad., veg. Survey, canopy cover).
- Groups will visit their assigned section, make general observations, and generate questions and hypotheses.
- Each area will be surveyed for the following
- Canopy cover - %
- Vegetative cover - % (grass, forbs, shrub, trees)
- Students will input data and analyze/graphically represent data.
- Students will generate individual summaries/conclusions.
When:
- September 2002, for 2 weeks, and about 8 visits to the site.
- May 2003, for 2 weeks, and about 8 visits to the site.
Potential Barriers:
- Computer availability for analysis,
- Student anxiety
Possible Strategies:
- Assign students to input data at home, during study hall and bring back to observe in class,
- Keep data analysis simple, look at overall raw data, and generate graphs manually.
- Prepare students for open-ended approach with various activities, small inquiry-based activities/labs.
Extensions:
- Use with GIS,
- Long term study to look at changes over time,
- Service learning: how can this data help community manage parks, streets, etc.
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