Tuesday, September 30th, 2025
Today you will need: pencil, computer, supplies for project
Learning objective: carbon cycling and sequestering and the impacts on climate

Do Now
Use your notes from last week on maple tree identification to determine which type of maple tree leaf you have in front of you. Be ready to explain your thinking. 

Next
Studio time - Projects are due this Friday, October 3rd. Remember that regardless of your method (poster, painting, podcast, etc) your message should include:
1) Carbon sequestration
2) How photosynthesis plays a role
3) Why it's important for climate that trees sequester carbon

Other inclusions to consider
1) Other types of ecosystem services that trees provide
2) Results from our campus tree survey

You might choose to relay your information in the form of painting, dancing, illustrating, labeling, written descriptions, verbal narrative, or an artist statement depending on your project type

Exit Ticket
What are you most looking forward to about getting older?

 Monday, September 29th, 2025
Today you will need: pencil, computer, supplies for project
Learning objective: carbon cycling and sequestering and impacts on climate

Do Now
Use your notes from last week on maple tree identification to determine which type of maple tree leaf you have on your table.

Next
Studio time - help yourself to supplies and let me know if you need anything. Projects are due this Friday, October 3rd. Remember that regardless of your method (poster, painting, podcast, etc) your message should include:
1) Carbon sequestration
2) How photosynthesis plays a role
3) Why it's important for climate that trees sequester carbon

Other inclusions to consider
1) Other types of ecosystem services that trees provide
2) Results from our campus tree survey

You might choose to relay your information in the form of pictures, labels, written descriptions, verbal narrative, or an artist statement 

Exit Ticket
What is something you enjoy spending money on?

 Friday, September 26th, 2025
No school for students - PD Day for teachers

 Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Today you will need: pencil, computer, supplies for project
Learning objective: carbon cycling and sequestering and impacts on climate

Today you have the entire duration of class for project studio time! Please help yourself to supplies and let me know if you need anything. You will have several days next week to work on your project and it will be due next Friday, October 3rd.

Exit Ticket
What did you accomplish on your project and what are your next steps?

 Wednesday, September 24th, 2025
Today you will need: pencil, Carbon Sequestration packet, computer
Learning objective: carbon cycling and sequestering and impacts on climate 

Do Now

• Open your biomass and carbon spreadsheet from yesterday

Next

• Finish sharing and entering the class data for the rest of the trees on campus

• Use metrics on pg.13, figure 3 to determine the biomass of the trees and enter into your spreadsheet

Then
Complete page 9 of your packet by following the prompts and writing a paragraph about carbon sequestration 

Last
Choose one project from the list below

1. Create a poster to display in the classroom or hallway, Group size 1-3
   Explain how trees sequester carbon and why that's an important ecosystem service. The poster should include a title and be written in your own words. Use color. Make it big and bold so that your poster can be read easily from four feet away.
   
   

2. Film a 3-5 minute podcast, Group size:  2-3 people
   Your podcast should be 3-5 minutes in length. The script should frame the problem of climate change and propose a possible solution to it through carbon sequestration. Define carbon sequestration and explain how it works through the process of photosynthesis. Discuss the survey we conducted with trees on our own campus, as well as the results of our survey.
   
   

3. Create a painting, Group size: 1 person
   (watercolor or acrylics) that is inspired by at least one ecosystem service that trees provide. Create an artist statement for your piece that explains what an ecosystem service is and the ecosystem service/s evident in your artwork. 

Exit Ticket
What is your background wallpaper on your phone?

 Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025

Today you will need: pencil, Carbon Sequestration packet, computer
Learning objective: carbon cycling and sequestering

Do Now
Think/pair/share - turn to page 13 of your carbon sequestration packet. Click this link and search Clatsop and Tillamook counties in Oregon. Compare to the Siuslaw National Forest. Record your observations. Share with a partner and be ready to discuss.

Next

• Answer the other two questions on page 13 

• Watch this video on ecosystem services and answer the questions on page 10 (whole class)

Then

• Calculate your trees DBH by taking the circumference you measured (in inches) and multiplying it by 2.54 to get centimeters. Then take that number and divide it by pi (3.14) to get the diameter.

• Make a copy of this spreadsheet and put your name in front of the title (example: Rose's copy of Carbon Sequestration on Campus)

• Enter the DBH measurements of your tree in centimeters in column E

Exit Ticket
What is a specific example of an ecosystem service?

 Monday, September 22nd, 2025
🍁 Happy First Day of Autumn! 🍁

Today you will need: sketchbook, pencil, Carbon Sequestration packet
Learning objective: tree ID, carbon cycling and sequestering

Do Now
Read page 5 of your carbon sequestration handout. Study the graph. What do you notice? What do you wonder?

Next

• Watch this video to determine which type of maple trees we have on campus. Note the identifying characteristics of each in your sketchbook. Which one do we have on campus (Silver, Sugar, Red, or Norway)?

Last
Watch this video on the Emeralds Edge and document your notes on pages 11/12

Exit Ticket
What's your favorite fall drink?

Friday, September 19th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook, pencil, Carbon Sequestration packet
Learning objective: scientific sketching, carbon cycling and sequestering 

Do Now
Turn and talk - what is a carbon sink and what is an example of one?

Next

• Watch this video and complete page 4

• Discuss how to measure a tree's diameter at breast height (DBH) 

Then

• We will be going outside. You will need to bring with you the following items: Your Carbon Sequestration packet, a clip board, your sketchbook, and a pencil. Teacher will provide a measuring tape and field guides. 

• We will walk around the school building and observe the various trees on the grounds. 

• Each small group (randomized selection of members) will choose one tree to focus on. 

• Each group will spend 10-15 minutes in the presence of their tree. 

• You will document your observations in your sketchbook. Be sure to date your notes and document the location (be specific ex. Northwest corner near the Central HS entrance). Here are some questions to think about: What does the tree look like? What color and shape are the leaves? Are their any unique features? What kind of tree is it? Use a field guide to identify it! Can you do a leaf and/or bark rubbing of your tree? What would you name this tree?

• Finally, you will measure your tree's DBH. Depending on the size of your tree, you may need two people on this task. Then, switch team members and repeat the measurements to compare for accuracy. Convert inches to centimeters.

• Document your DBH measurements and your group members names on the top of page 6 of the Carbon Sequestration packet

 
Last

• We will go back inside of school and share out our results 

Thursday, September 18th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook, pencil, Carbon Sequestration packet
Learning objective: scientific sketching, carbon cycling and sequestering 

Do Now
Turn & talk - what does it mean for carbon to be sequestered?
Write down the equation for photosynthesis and respiration in your sketchbook
photosynthesis 6CO2 + 6H2O = C6H12O6 + 6O2
respiration  C6H12O6 + 6CO2 =  6H20 + 6O2

Next
Number the pages of your carbon sequestration packet
Continue working on page 1 of the packet (independently)

Then
We will complete page 2 together as a class
Watch this video and complete page 4

Last
Watch a video on Emerald's Edge and complete pages 11 & 12

Exit Ticket
What is an example of a carbon sink? A carbon source?

Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, your leaf, Carbon Sequestration packet
Learning objective: scientific sketching, carbon cycling and sequestering 

Do Now
Finish your scientific sketch of a leaf (10 min)

Next
Leaf matching game: Lay your leaf on the back table and then lay your sketchbook on the floor in a circle around the table. Then, you will pick up a leaf (that is not the one you drew), and then gallery walk style take it around to the sketch books and try to find it's match.

Then
Complete the first page of the carbon sequestration packet. We will do the second page together.

Exit
What's your favorite tree?

Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook, pencil, colored pencils, a leaf
Learning objective: scientific sketching

Monday, September 15th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, Food Web Connections game rules and set of cards (one per group of 4)
Learning objective: food webs and energy transfer

Do Now
Find your assigned seat
Turn and talk - explain the relationship between wolves, elk, and beavers

Next
Listen to a brief explanation of the rules and objective of the Food Web Connections card game
Play the Food Web Connections card game
Play a second or third round if you have time

Then
Discuss these questions with your group and be ready to share out
1. Is it important to have producers in your web? Why?
2. If you had a choice between choosing a card to place on a level where you already have many cards and a level where you only have one card, which should you choose? Why?
3. Is it better to extend your web to higher levels or make sure that you have enough cards at lower levels to support the ones above it? Why?

Exit Ticket
Fist to five- how did you feel about the food web game (fist being you did not like it at all and 5 being it was awesome!)

Friday, September 12th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, Transfer of Energy worksheet
Learning objective: food webs and energy transfer

Thursday, September 11th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, Transfer of Energy worksheet
Learning objective: energy transfer

Do Now
Quietly read to yourself the first page of the Transfer of Energy worksheet and be ready to discuss

Next:
What happened when the grey wolves were over-hunted in Yellowstone Park?
How was balance restored?
What is a trophic cascade?

Then
1. Label organisms as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, or tertiary consumers
2. Create a Yellowstone National Park food web using images provided and make sure to include arrows to show energy movement.

Exit Ticket
If there were 25 hours in a day, how would you spend the extra hour?

Wednesday, September 10th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook/notebook, pencil
Learning objectives: finish documenting yesterday's observations, review food webs and energy transfer, learn about biodiversity and bioaccumulation

Tuesday, September 9th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook/notebook, pencil, eraser
Learning objective: document observations of a local ecosystem

Do Now
Test your knowledge slide 12 

Next
Outside for an independent and silent activity: Observe and document an ecosystem in your school neighborhood (see slide 13 for directions)

Then
Share out observations 

Exit Ticket
Would you rather wear clown makeup everyday for a year, or wear clown shoes everyday for a year?

Monday, September 8th, 2025
Today you will need: sketchbook/notebook, pencil, ecological pyramid handout
Learning objective: Understand the pyramid of ecological organization, food chains, food webs, energy flow

Do Now
15 minutes of studio time: Take out your ecological pyramid of organization. Make sure all the levels (organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere) of the pyramid are completed. Be sure to draw pictures, label the levels, and add color.

Next
Announcement: looking for 1-2 more Conservationist interns. See description here.

Then
slideshow, lecture, and notes on food chains, food webs, and energy transfer 

Last
activity: draw an example of a food chain in your field journal (sketchbook/notebook). You may use the slideshow as a reference, but do not use that exact food chain.

Exit Ticket
What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Friday, September 5th, 2025
Today you will need: notebook, pencil, ecological pyramid handout
Learning objective: Understand the concept of ecology and the ecological pyramid of organization

Do Now
Turn and talk - What does "ecology" mean? How would you describe it? What does it look like?

Next
Introduction to ecology -  slideshow and notes

Then
Activity - ecological pyramid 

Exit Ticket
If any animal could fly, which one do you think would be the most frightening?

Wednesday, September 4th, 2024 

Do Now 

Create a "name card" or find yours from last year

1. Choose a playing card

2. Write your name, preferred name, or nickname that you would like to be called, in permanent marker, big and clear, somewhere on the card (it does not matter which side)...If you made yours last year, you may need to darken up the ink - go over it with marker again.

3. On the bottom corner write P1 or P2 (depending on what class period you have this class)

Next
Discuss necessary materials for class: sketchbook, folder, pencil

Where to put materials in the classroom (bins and turn-in shelf)

Then

Play Wink Assassin

Game rules are as follows:

1. Everybody circles up and closes and covers their eyes 

2. I will select one "assassin" by tapping that person twice on their shoulder

3. Everyone will open their eyes and begin to walk around the room casually. Don't travel in groups. Walk around independently.

4. The assassin will eliminate people by winking at them. Nobody else is allowed to wink. You can not keep your eyes down or closed the whole time because your job is to identify the assassin. 

5. If you are winked at you must count silently in your head to five, and then "die". You can be as dramatic or subtle about this as you would like. Stay where you are or go back to your seat. Either way, you are out for the rest of the round. 

6. If you think you know who the assassin is, you can raise your hand and make an accusation. If you are right, the game is over. If you are wrong, you are eliminated from the rest of the game.

7.  Game play continues until the assassin is properly identified, or there are only two people left (the assassin and one detective).

Exit Ticket 

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