Tree Tender
| Biomes and Species Success in Ecosystems |
Biomes are areas found throughout the earth that occupy distinct regions defined by climate, flora and fauna. They include ecosystems in marine, fresh water and terrestrial environments. The diversity of life varies by latitude around the globe, with greatest biodiversity being found nearest the equator. Many species found within Earth’s biomes are now threatened or endangered. According to ecologists, current extinction rates are at an all-time high. Habitat loss due to human impact is a major contributor. Your class will participate in a two-part activity. First, students will research world biomes, identify specific flora and fauna and determine where on the Earth they may be found. Research facts and photos will be organized to produce a poster. The second activity applies information gained from the biome research to determine which species of flora and fauna are most important to ecosystem survival. Through collaborative small-group discussion students will decide which species are most likely to become endangered or extinct and diagram the phylogenetic relationship between their example fauna. Students will apply a variety of learning strategies to complete these activities; research, poster-production, cooperative learning, polling, and small-group discussions. As a result of these activities, students will gain improved understanding of the elements of ecosystems within biomes and which example species are most important to sustain ecosystem function and success.
Grade: High School
Author: R. Allen
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Saving Biodiversity One PSA at a Time |
Students will create a public service announcement to promote awareness of a threatened or endangered animal. Background research will be conducted by the students to find information about the animal, including its population change, role in the environment, and plans for its survival.
Grade: High School
Author: R. Bartenslager
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Strategies for Dealing with Problems Caused by Over Fertilization |
After having learned about the 4 major cycles (water, C, N, P) students will consider how fertilization affects the cycles. They will then visit UF’s SEEP (Stormwater Ecological Enhancement Project) and learn how the design helps reestablish the ecological function (service) of water filtration. Students will then have to explain how the SEEP works and its effect on the cycling of water, N and P; identify other ways of dealing with over fertilization; come up with a plan for mitigating/avoiding the problems associated with over fertilization.
Grade: High School
Author: B. Breil
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| We Are Family: Tree Tender Conservation Extension |
Throughout time, scientists have sought a way to link all organisms together via a common ancestor. The phylogenetic tree allows students to see the relationships organisms have with other organisms and how they are all interdependent. Students will come to understand how the extinction of a plant or animal, or any organism, can create a chain reaction and subsequently, have an impact on the future of many other organisms. Extinction of a species has been a normal progression of life. Today, however, humans are exponentially increasing the rate. Classes will participate in a 2-day learning activity. The first day all students will view the Tree Tender video. Students will be given one organism to research. They will list its characteristics and its classification. On day 2, students will work in groups of ~6, discuss the characteristics their organisms, and create a phylogenetic tree. After each group has completed this task, the class will work together creating a larger tree to include each group’s organisms. While the tree is under construction, the teacher will encourage a student-lead discussion asking how would extinction of a particular organism on the list effect the rest of the tree. The pedagogy used here is differentiated instruction through active learning and co-operative learning. Students will be looking at the possible real world implications extinction can have today and will experience experiential learning, inquiry-based learning, as well as engaging in open-ended discussion/learning which will allow them to explore real ways they can help our planet.
Grade: Middle School
Author: D. Carmack
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Go Extinction! Exploring the Tree of Life Extinction Simulation Presentations |
Phylogenetic tree is used by scientists to look at similarities and relationships that exist between organisms. The phylogenetic tree is designed by looking at different characteristics of organisms throughout time. According to the tree tender film, all organisms are connected through the phylogenetic tree, though very distant at times. In any ecosystem for example coral reefs, as discussed in the film, organisms depend on each other for survival. If a species extinct, like dominos, many other species that may depend on it may extinct as well. Humans are a major player in the extinction event, the anthropocene extinction. My class will participate in an activity exploring how mass extinction can be reduced if not avoided at all. My students have already done ecological concepts like different traits of animals and plants and levels of classification. They have also grouped these traits of animals on a linear line to represent the tree of life. My class activity gives students an opportunity to collaborate with each other on changes they can make to save an ecosystem. The main pedagogy used here is differentiated instruction through active learning and cooperative learning. By looking at real –world issues, students will also experience Experiential Learning, Inquiry Learning, and Open – Ended Instruction, allowing them to explore real ways they can help our planet with their peers.
Grade: High School
Author: J. Chiomadzi
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| What the Biome? |
The viewing of the Tree Tender movie could help spark an interest in the biomes of the planet by inciting the students to consider how all life on Earth is connected and how small changes, both good and bad can change how organisms interact within a biome.
Grade: High School
Author: K. Diaz
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Florida is the Model | Florida is the Model Presentation |
Is there any hope in a world with climate change, too many people, pollution and species extinctions? A drive around your town may reveal endless blacktop and development. However, a long drive through most parts of Florida reveals extensive areas of wildlands. Could it be that Florida, the third most populated state in the USA and the 8th most densely populated, may be a model for sustainable land use? This activity will present to students current land use trends and ask them to create a model map of a sustainable Florida.
Grade: Middle / High School
Author: L. Fisher
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Symbiosis in Stress Effects of Climate Change on Biomes & Symbiotic Relationship |
Biomes, ecosystems, and interspecific interactions are all key components to understanding ecology. Tragically, climate change is greatly impacting each of these three. In this lesson, students will utilize maps and models to determine the implications of continued climate change. From their investigations of current climate trends, they will predict the impact on interspecific interactions and present their findings to the class.
Grade: High School
Author: W. Furiosi
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
In the film, Tree Tender, the tree of life is explained. The Tree of Life demonstrates that all life, both extinct and extant, are all related by common ancestry. Relationships among different species are examined to show how life is dependent upon other species. Current problems with extinction are discussed using examples. Why the tree of life is important to us as well as all life is demonstrated. This activity is meant to get students thinking about the world around them and what is happening. This activity is meant to educate students the current status of life on Earth and promote optimism on our ability to find solutions for the future.
Grade: High School
Author: C. Goldenberg
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
This activity is intended to follow the viewing of the film TreeTender. In particular, the video clip in the learning modules, shows how the Tree of Life can be used to determine the relationships between all organisms on life and reinforces the concept of a common ancestor to differing species. This activity provides students with the opportunity to test these concepts using internet based resources.
Grade: High School
Author: K. Kehoe
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environments. This interaction is important to maintain a stable environment. Over the years humans have interfered with this interaction for various reasons resulting in very danger imbalance in our environment and creating a loss of biodiversity, depletion of natural resources and other problematic issues like climate change.
The film Tree Tender shows a variety of biological topics ranging from common ancestry to ecological symbiosis to destruction of our planet. Most importantly it includes ways in which we can try to make things better on our planet. These things include ways we can decrease our energy use, choosing environmentally friendly products and contacting local governments. The video encourages a better understanding of our planet which would result in decreasing extinct rates and increasing biodiversity.
In this activity, the students will play a matching game, matching the problem we’ve created on this planet to a potential solution. The students will watch the video, and after matching the problem with the solution, try and come up with another way to solve the real-world problem using personal experiences. The class will discuss some of the solutions they came up with during gameplay and display it on a poster board.
This activity will use Cooperative Learning, class discussion, and open-ended questioning to explain what is happening on our Earth and will try to come up with solutions to the problems.
Grade: High School
Author: M. Lawrence
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| TOL - Lawrence_TT_Tree Tender Matching Game |
In the film Tree Tender, Gaia learns about the importance of the Tree of Life to represent the ancestry and relationships between all life that ever existed. In better understanding these relationships, we can better assess where our attention must be directed to slow the loss of biodiversity caused by humans. Students will be provided with questions to complete individually which focus on a specific perspective that aligns with the “Thinking Hats” pedagogical strategy from DeBono (1985) and then process these questions using a Jigsaw strategy. Discussions will focus on ecological concepts like the Anthropocene Extinction and biodiversity loss, natural history, the use of the Tree of Life, and ecosystem services we rely on.
Grade: High School
Author: V. Ledford
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Tree Tender Social Media Campaign: #FloridaTreeTender |
In the film Tree Tender, Gaia learns about the importance of the Tree of Life to represent the ancestry and relationship between all life that ever existed. In better understanding these relationships and the ecosystem services from which humans benefit and we can give hope to others to find solutions to our environmental issues and protect and improve biodiversity affected by human activity. Students will break into pairs to create a social media campaign to bring light to an environmental problem in Florida, create a solution, and develop a call to action. This uses pedagogy like, collaborative learning, case studies, integrated learning, peer teaching, and experiential learning to address a local environmental problem and propose solutions to that problem.
Grade: High School
Author: L. Marbour
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Becoming a School Tree Tender |
The film Tree Tender helps us realize that small changes in our personal lives and households can lead to large impacts if we work together. By raising awareness of our negative impact on global biodiversity, we can develop solutions to slow extinction rates and improve habitat quality. In this activity, students will design an achievable project involving school-wide waste reduction or campus quality/biodiversity improvement. After research, budgeting, and design, groups will present their project idea to the class. The class will vote on the best-suited project for the campus. The project with the most votes will have the opportunity to present their idea to administration for implementation for the year.
Grade: High School
Author: E. Miller
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Bingo Ecological Services | Bingo! I Got It!! Cards |
This is a Bingo review activity. It allows students to relate real life examples to major ecological services provided by organisms found in the Tree of Life. The teacher will read/show examples of organisms that provided ecological services. Students will participate in a discussion of each example organism and match its major ecological service found on their bingo board. This activity can be used as a starting engagement piece or as a review after topics are covered.
Grade: High School
Author: Nakonecznyj
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Team Tree Tender, You Can Be The Change |
After viewing the short film Tree Tender the students are encouraged to find hope in our ever-changing world. This project will help them to reflect on their own personal impact and encourage them to find a solution to implement in their daily lives to lessen their impact on our ever-changing world. The students will be able to experience how easy it is to make one small change and see that they can make a difference together. Through this classroom project and journal reflection students will be able to see how simple some of the changes they can make really are and attempt to put these changes into action. Another valuable part of this project is examining how America has become a throw away society. The students will be able to get hands-on experience in reusing/repurposing items. Overall, this project can help the students see how easy it is to lessen our overall impact on the Earth by make a small change in their daily life.
Grade: High School
Author: T. Nick
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Rocks, Clocks, and Zombie Lineages: A Literacy Strategy Based Activity on the Tree of Life |
This activity uses a recent popular-science article written for general audiences to discuss a specific example of evolutionary lineages. Using The Guardian article “The paleontology of rocks, clocks, and zombie lineages” by Elsa Panciroli, students will read an annotate a short article, then share and discuss the importance of evidence discussed in the article.
Grade: High School
Author: M. Paxson
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
| Tree Tender Conservation Warrior |
After viewing the treetender video and responding to the questions, students will have a Harkness discussion about their answers to the questions. The students will then collaborate with a conservation resource to research a particular threatened organisms.
Grade: High School
Author: J. Rankin
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders
Students will use nucleotide to blast 2 genes found in plants. While we are studying the photosynthetic properties of Euglena and the Kingdom of Protists. Students will review the base pairing rules. Students will see the conversions and capabilities of the software to convert base pairs to nucleotides and then to proteins. Discussed will be the rbcl gene and natK.
Grade: High School
Author: M. Torres
Program: Tree of Life 2018
Activity: Tree Tenders