Summer SAVY, Session 3 Day 2, “Plants & Pollen: Exploring Agricultural Engineering” (1st-2nd)
Day two started with reviewing what we learned yesterday and included making connections to our four generalization statements about structure. Before the day got too hot, we went outside for plant observations. Students guessed which pollinators are attracted to the flowers and plants we observed based on the shape, smell, and color of that specific plant. Any new information gained was added to our Johari Learning Window graphic organizer.
We continued reading our Mariana Becomes a Butterfly guided text by reading chapter 3. In this chapter, we discussed the trouble that Mariana is having with her Ohelo plant. Students did an amazing job reasoning why the Ohelo plant was not pollinated. Next, to help students be exposed to reasons why certain animals eat certain foods, they collaborated with partners to determine which food items matched which animal. This was a segue into learning about how our mouths allow us to eat the types of food in our diet and how different pollinators’ mouths are meant to reach the nectar from each flower.
We then investigated pollinators and discussed the reasons they are attracted to different flowers. Students watched a brief video about Tennessee pollinators before we started to research specific insects. The most exciting part of the day for students may have been when they were provided with a mystery box wrapped in yellow tissue paper and they had to hypothesize what was inside. The box and yellow tissue paper represented the pollen, and the sweet M&M’s in the middle represented the yummy nectar.
Learners spent the afternoon working with partners to research beetles and develop a poster that includes drawings of their favorite beetles and facts that they found the most interesting! This was a great time for students to learn how to collaborate and problem-solve with their peers. We wrapped up the day by reading about butterflies.