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Meeting The National Science Standards

After students have identified the structures, ask them to design their own experiment with bees following the scientific method. Some of the experiments my students have conducted involve recording the color and/or height of flowers most frequented by bees as they move about a flower bed, and recording how many bees came to a sugar dish in a period of time. Students gather data during the course of a week as a classroom assignment and share their results on Friday. Extension activities based on their observations and questions may then be explored as time allows. Grasses Although grasses cover almost one-third of the land area of the Earth and one-half the area of the United States, most life science textbooks give little or no attention to this very important group of plants. Grasses and cereals like wheat, corn, rye, rice, and barley produce much of the food for man and other animals, and they help to hold soil and prevent erosion. Cane sugar, oils, starch, alcohol, and numerous other products are derived from grasses. Even though grasses are this important, few students graduate with an understanding of the common grasses growing in our lawns and fields. Grasses with their flowers may be collected in all growing seasons of the year. There are over 3,000 species of grasses grown in the United States, and a given locality may have 75 to 100 species. Ask students to observe where the grasses grow, to write 5 observations of each grass, then to research grasses in resource books or on the Internet. Ask them to categorize grasses by the season in which they grow and flower, and to describe the type of

inflorescence, the ligule, the presence of an auricle, and the grass flower. Discussion topics might include the value of hybrid corn and how it is obtained, the concept of monocultures in a lawn or field, and how to rid an area of some annual grasses (foxtail and crabgrass). Follow-up experiments might focus on seed viability, the effect of different fertilizers on grass, and how best to grow grass. Conclusion Students may improve their scientific knowledge by studying natural science at all levels of their development and all through their academic experience. Studying common organisms helps students develop observational and inquiry skills, build a practical working knowledge of the scientific method and of current technology, and gain a better understanding of many basic science concepts and themes. They learn to interpret their experiments, to document them, and to communicate their results in narratives or through videotaped presentations. Natural science is a "natural" for helping us achieve the National Science Standards. Further Reading Klein, William J. 1993. Learning Under The Sun (New Edition). M B Learning Systems, Sioux City, Iowa. Klein, William J. 1993. Learning For all Seasons. M B Learning Systems, Sioux City, Iowa. National Research Council. 1995. National Science Education Standards. National Academy Press.

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