Students Communicate Through Scientific Posters

 High School Students Communicating Results of Buds, Leaves and Global Warming Study

How do you like Hollis High School students'  final projects?   

Teacher, Maryanne Rotelli kindly shared these photos of her students' work with us so we can spread the inspiration.   If you want to consider adopting and/or adapting her idea:  This is the assignment she gave her students:

Leaves and Buds – LTER with Harvard Forest Lab Report and Poster Presentation

Introduction:

·        Background on Phenology both leaf drop and leaf budding (include factors that impact both)

·        Why is this study being completed and how does it relate to climate change?

·        Indicate what factors that you will study using the data collected

·        Hypothesis

Methods and Materials:

·        Describe the procedure for collecting data during the fall and spring sessions

Results:

·        Data and Graphs – remember you will need to have captions that clarify the conclusions that can be drawn from the graph

Discussion:

·        Describe the results as shown in your graphs. What does it tell the reader?

·        Explain how the results support or refute any of the hypotheses you established in your introduction.

·        Draw your conclusions and explain. Tie in with any of the research/reading that you have done.

Poster Portion:

Slide 1: Title and Authors

Slide 2:

·        Common and scientific names

·        Plant identification – leaf, bud patterns, bark

·        History, use of, interesting facts about your species

Slides 3-4:  Key highlights from your introduction

Slide 5: Methods and Materials

Slides 6-9: Key Results – Graphs with captions

Slides 10-11: Conclusion

Slide 12: References

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Please send us any student samples, photos, graphs, assignments, learning tools you are willing to share with the Schoolyard Ecology learning community, a.k.a. teachers like you :)

End of School-year Forest Ecology Videos Anybody?

Did you  know that they have great educational resources related to Forest Ecology at the Museum of Natural History in Cambridge? 

View short informational videos about New England’s forest history, ecology, and wildlife, and learn about the research of Harvard scientists in our regional forests. Visit the museum to experience the exhibition, New England Forests in the Zofnass Family Gallery.

A History of New England's Forests

This video provides an overview of the landscape history of New England, from European settlement to the present, and explains how it has shaped our modern forest.
 
 

Fungi in the Forest

The fungi–including various mushrooms, molds, and yeasts–are critical players in the forest ecosystem. These videos explore the various roles of fungi as parasites, decomposers, and cooperative partners with trees, and feature the research of Harvard scientist Anne Pringle.
 

How do Forests Work?

Trees are essential components of forests, but a forest is more than a collection of trees. These videos animate the flow of water and nutrients through a tree and describe how forests work, including the processes whereby forest ecosystems help recycle carbon and shelter and purify water.

 

Life on a Rock, the Lichens

Lichens grow abundantly on the surface of rocks, trees, and even man-made objects. These videos explain the unusual biology of lichens, show their astounding diversity, and profile the field research of a Harvard biologist who studies them.

 

 

Our Changing Forests

New England’s forests are living laboratories studied by scientists. These videos feature Harvard botanists, ecologists, and atmospheric scientists measuring how forests circulate carbon through the biosphere, interact with climate, and respond to invasive species.
Photo by Bridget Tivnan.

 

Old Growth Forest

Virgin old growth forests once blanketed the New England landscape, however today old growth forest is a tiny, but important, component of our regional forests. This video describes the characteristics of old growth and the rich community of plants, animals, and fungi found here.
 

Wetlands in the Forest

From forest ponds, to bogs and temporary spring pools, New England's forest wetlands are an important link between land and water. This video describes why wetlands are important as habitat for wildlife and to filter and protect our water supply.

These videos came from the Harvard Museum of Natural History webpages at:
http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures-classes-events/new-england-forests-videos.html