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STEM Unit Summer 2012

Incorporating STEM into Nature Writing

This unit revolves around a nature writing activity which incorporates: exploring technologies to create recycled products, making paper from their material of choice, and testing the “quality” of that paper. Students will also gain an appreciation of how mathematical patterns are evident in nature.

SCIENCE

1. Root Lesson (Science): Nature Writing 

Writing skills are essential to high-quality communication in the sciences. Nature journaling, along with practice of good writing technique, will allow students to discover and express an appreciation for the many aspects of nature, many of which we are studying in environmental science, through writing. Peer assessment is an important part of this process as students are not only checking each other’s work, but helping to improve it with feedback. This is useful to both the reader and writer.

Day 1 – Introduce the Concepts of Nature Writing

  1. Read/Show October Wind by David McCord
  2. Nature Writing Lesson: my PowerPoint
  3. Popcorn Read: A Guide to Nature Writing (Toni Albert)
  4. Write a Haiku (Toni Albert Eco Prints Worksheet)

Day 2 – Introduce Nature Journal

  1. Share Haikus
  2. Lesson: keeping a journal, with seasonal guideposts
  3. How to Journal: Read: jigsaw (5 groups of 5)

http://www.build-creative-writing-ideas.com/free-creative-writing-prompts-nature.html

http://www.writingforward.com/writing-prompts-3/creative-writing-prompts/12-nature-inspired-creative-writing-prompts

http://www.writingdonna.com/2012/03/14/10-nature-writing-prompts/

  1. Review of Good Writing: Writing Tools:

WritingFix’s list of 200 breathtaking adjectives

Little Red Riding Hooks…

Pivotal Writing - Commonly Overused Words

  1. Review Rubric – need to choose one

Revised Narragansett HS: Á Nature Journal Rubric

Or my Nature Writing Rubric (based on PSSA writing rubric)

Day 3 – Pre-Writing for Nature Journal #1 & Graphic Organizer

Complete pre-writing inventory & organize thoughts in one of the graphic organizers provided (or one of your own).

Day 4 – Nature Writing (Nature Writing #1: Fall)

First, model by ready a writing from previous student: Deer in the Woods

Directions: You will write a journal entry or story on a specific topic that relates to the fall season. Use the information you gathered during your pre-writing and your graphic organizer to write from a prompt provided, or something you have thought of on your own. You may include a poem within your writing assignment, but for this assignment you must write more than just a poem.

Remember to follow the guidelines provided in the rubric.

(Copy Ideas for Fall Nature Writing with Fall EcoJournal on the back on which students can write. (Eco Prints, Toni Albert))

Day 5 – Peer Editing: Nature Journal #1

Students will use the peer editing sheet to assess two other students’ papers. Writers will use the suggestions made to re-write a final draft.

TECHNOLOGY

2. Technology: Making Paper from Poop

It is essential in the study of environmental science that students understand the importance of recycling and reuse. Recycling paper is good for the environment. It cuts down on the amount of garbage you throw away and it means fewer trees have to be chopped down to make new paper. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MAKE PAPER

It is also important that students practice stewardship by also realizing that there are many items which we discard as unusable but have potential for future products.

1. Introduction:  What are the tools of the nature journalist? Yes, paper is key. From where do we get paper? Yes, trees. Are there any other sources from which we could get pulp (define pulp) with which to make paper? With so many trees being destroyed to make paper isn’t it wise to fine alternative sources?

2. Well, here is one idea: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/planet-green/37333-g-word-making-paper-from-poo-video.htm (2:09)

3. And it turns out elephants are not the only potential source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17799869/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/panda-poop-be-made-paper/

Or even this: http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/company-sees-goldmine-recycling-flushed-toilet-paper.html

4. Not only is this environmentally friendly, but some businesses are really cashing in:

http://new.poopoopaper.com/

http://www.origami-resource-center.com/poo-paper.html

5. Use Wallwisher to collaborate ideas for uses of or products that could be made from poo paper. http://wallwisher.com/wall/5hplbl32qx

If extra time: So how is it made?

http://www.ehow.com/how_5778937_make-paper-manure.html

ENGINEERING

3. Engineering: Designing “Quality” Paper

The design process is a fundamental model by which students direct creative or innovative ideas into a quality product or solution. The creative problem solving and collaboration involved will allow students to increase the quality of work, as well as emphasize teamwork, as they build prototypes, respond to critical feedback, and refine their design.

Day 1 - Intro to Paper Making

Use ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MAKE PAPER for introduction & background information.

Explain to the students that materials used to produce a product are chosen based on their properties that will give it the best quality, And quality in one situation is not always quality in another. It depends on what you are looking for.

Ideas for potential pulp: recycled computer paper, egg cartons, non waxed boxes, construction paper, wrapping papers, magazines, paper bags, tissue papers, napkins, cardboards, old cards, toilet paper, office paper, typing paper, napkins…

Ideas for decorations:

Natural: leaves, grass, flowers, plant fibers, seeds…

Artificial & Craft: paper scraps, confetti, scraps with words, glitter, sequins, tin foil, yarn…

So what qualities are we looking for in our paper? As a class list some characteristics that might signify “quality” in paper. Fill in the “Rubric for Measuring the Quality of Homemade Paper.”

Have students choose their materials for selected pulp. Weigh to make sure they have between 20-30 grams. Follow instructions to create pulp and let it sit overnight.

Day 2 – Make the Paper (design & build)

Instructions for making paper:

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MAKE PAPER

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/makingpaper.html

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/recyclingpaper.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Paper

http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/paper/paper.htm

http://www.wipapercouncil.org/makepaper.htm

any of these are fine – personally, I am going to :avoid the blender & use mortar & pestle; use a picture frame from the dollar store which should  fit nicely into a dishpan. I am also going to add cornstarch (as opposed to more expensive liquid) to prevent inks from soaking into the paper fibers.

I created instructions based on the wikihow & wipapercouncil instructions:

How to Make Paper

Day 3 – Test & Evaluate

Refer back to the “Rubric for Measuring the Quality of Homemade Paper. As a group measure the qualities listed by the methods suggested. Do the same for a paper other than your own, Answer the reflective questions. Use the promethean board to report class findings.

MATH

4. Math: Math in Nature – Fibonacci Numbers

Mathematics is a way of explain the world around us – we are surrounded by examples in nature. The study of math in nature is a tremendous resource for the classroom.

"Mathematics is the alphabet with which God has written the universe." -- Galileo Galilei

Introduction: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blair073/architecture/2006/11/6_math_in_nature.html and http://io9.com/5502284/nature-by-numbers-explains-the-math-in-nature-+-beautifully video (3:44) and Geometry in Nature by Mr. Anderson

Lesson: Fibonacci Numbers PowerPoint  slides 1-22 (based on: Fibonacci Numbers & The Fibonacci Numbers and The Golden Section)

Activity: Math in Nature (used with permission) http://www.missmaggie.org/mission4_parts/eng/teaching/pdfs/mathinnature.pdf (also illustrated in Fibonacci Numbers PowerPoint (slides 23-36)

Reflect: Where have you witnessed Fibonacci Numbers in nature? Did you see examples when you completed the pre-writing for your nature journal? If yes, list them; if no, where in particular do you think you might look for examples?

 

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