The Arboretum (Anna Tavitian)

Description:

The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is 127-acre botanical garden and historical site operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and located in the city of Arcadia, CA. Home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species. The arboretum's plants are grouped by geography with gardens for South American, Mediterranean, South African, Australian and Asiatic-North American plants. Other displays include the Aquatic Garden, Meadowbrook, Demonstration Home Gardens, Garden for All Seasons, Prehistoric and Jungle Garden, Native Oaks, Herb Garden, and the Palm and Bamboo collection. In addition, the arboretum is home to a flock of some 200 peafowl, which are descendants of original birds imported by Baldwin from India in about 1880 (the peafowl is a symbol of the city of Arcadia). Peafowl can also be found throughout neighborhoods surrounding the arboretum. The Arboretum also houses outdoor historical landmarks representative of the major phases of California history.

Audience:

• A biology teacher would benefit visiting the Arboretum because they could learn about and witness different plant structures, adaptations, life cycles, reproduction, and the interrelationships between people and plant.

• An environmental science teacher would benefit by a visit to the Arboretum because it provides local examples of plants from various locations, different greenhouses and how they work, adaptation, and many other phenomenon.

• A history teacher would benefit visiting the Arboretum because it provides a way to teach about the lives of native Tongva/Gabrielinos, replica kits, and how Native Americans used the land for food, clothing and shelters. Students will see different periods beginning with Mission, Rancho and American periods.

Science Concepts Addressed:

• Botany: Comparing the various plants and adaptations. Comparing prehistory plants to current plants.

• Animal Behavior: mating, feeding, and survival

• Biomes and Ecosystems: Comparing Africa vs. Australia

Study Guide: Develop a study guide that could be used by students visiting this site. The study guide should be very clear and address specific science concepts. The study guide should include the following:

Informational map: A simple map of the field trip site with key features labeled.

• Tasks: Students may perform the following task prior and while at the field trip site.

  • Pre-Post Plant Adaptation Assessment

  • Plant Vocabulary - Words to learn prior to field trip

  • Plant Adaptation - Exam plants and identify their adaptations

  • Label - Label plant parts

  • Plants in our World - students research and present topics, such as Indian uses of native plants, Arboretum wildlife, the structure of of plants, and many more.

  • Early California History - Includes information to discuss with students, and topics to research and present in class.

• Observations: Spot It! This activity is similar to scavenger hunt, where students identify the names or describe what they find that matches the examples given.

• Higher Order Questions / Activities: Plant Adaptation is a collaborative activity that requires students to observe and identify different plants that have adapted to their environment. Students will be expected to write a short description about the plant and its adaptation, plus include a picture or a drawing.

Photographs:

Flickr

For additional information: Include links to websites and books that would be of assistance to those interested in learning more about this field trip location. Use APA style for books. For website links, type the name of the resource and hyperlink the name (don't just paste the url as text).

Winter/Spring 2013 Magazine

Rebman, J. P., Roberts, N. C., & Ezcurra, E. (2012). Baja California plant field guide. San Diego, CA: San Diego Natural History Museum.

Bauer, N. (2012). The California wildlife habitat garden: How to attract bees, butterflies, birds, and other animals. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press.

Timbrook, J. (2010). Chumash ethnobotany: Plant knowledge among the Chumash people of southern California. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic.