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special is one of fifteen Service Learning Standards Based Models For more Service Learning activities Connecting Classrooms~Communities~Careers visit bostonteachnet.org or contact Barbara Locurto IMPACT II @ School-to-Career, Boston Public Schools |
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Environment |
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| Ethnobotany Sharing Native Plants Arts, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science Connecting |
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can we preserve cultural knowledge? High school biology and chemistry students become cultural and environ-mental stewards when they interview their elders about the use of native plants. Taking notes on familial traditions and agricultural practice, they transcribe their findings and employ conventional nomenclature to identify and describe plants and herbs. Internet research allows them to compare global usage of their plants. Applying the inquiry method in labs and hands-on experiments, they investigate growing plants and their medicinal and nutritional properties. When students invite an ethnobotanist to class, they hear an expert describe many of the specimens they are studying. Perceiving the need to preserve their findings for future generations, the young scientists publish a Handbook of Native Plants that they dedicate to their respected elders and distribute throughout the school and community. In a celebration of food and healing, students culminate this project by inviting family and friends to sample traditional recipes and share ethnobotany facts that convey both folk wisdom and the scientific method. |
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| Resources
Cultural Uses of Plants: A Guide to Learning
about Ethnobotany, Gabriell DeBear Paye; Encyclopedia
of Medicinal Plants, Andrew Chevallier; Identifying
and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (And Not So Wild)
Places, Steve Brill Technology search Internet, exchange e-mail, tape record & photograph, scan graphics & word process handbook Web Sites Ethnobotany; Sacred Earth Ethnobotany Articles Community Partners Arnold Arboretum, senior center; ethnobotanist, local university
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| Learning Standards | Classroom Activities | Service Activities |
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Identify aspects of social & personal issues that can be addressed
through scientific study (S) o Make connections between natural resources, economic development & population centers (SS) |
o Discuss using plants for medicinal & nutritional purposes o Decide to interview family members & elders about these traditions o Create field notes checklist for interviews |
o Visit senior center to share cultural & language similarities
with students & elders o Include seniors' botanical wisdom in native plant study |
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Conduct historical & social studies research (SS) o Use technologies to obtain, use & present information effectively (S) |
o Study audio recorder & camera techniques o Develop strategies to record reflections & plant information in journals o Translate, transcribe & outline information |
o Conduct interviews with seniors o Send pertinent information & illustrations in a thank you letter to family & other resources |
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Develop portfolio of original illustrations of objects & organisms
(S) o Understand & use the writing process effectively (ELA) |
o Identify & illustrate plants discussed in interviews with seniors o Search literature & Internet for native & traditional nomenclature & other information o Publish Handbook of Native Plants |
o Display handbook in school library o Read handbook to younger students o Present handbook & aloe plants to elder resources |
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Design & conduct scientific investigations (S) o Interview a medical researcher, biologist, or bioengineer (S) |
o Divide into groups that focus on specific plants o Design scientific protocols o Interview ethnobotanist on historic studies o Design experiments to test hypothesis o Perform experiment, observe & record data |
o Share reflections on scientific methodology & data results o Continue scientific dialogue by e-mailing lab reports to ethnobotanist resource |
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Complete science exposition including whole class theme-based projects
with individually differentiated tasks (S) |
o Prepare & present at exposition of nutritional & medicinal
uses of native plants o Encourage participants at exhibit to discuss plant uses from their respective cultures |
o Invite family, elders, youth & school community to exposition o Share native recipes & medicinal cures |
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