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Flower Bulb Science: Activities for the Hands-on Classroom
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This Web Seminar, developed in collaboration with the National Science Digital Library
(NSDL) took place on Thursday, February 7, 2008, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Time. In this program, the presenters discussed various activities examples and
applications of how teachers can use flower bulbs in their teaching. The topics
presented included experiments and observations in growing bulbs out of season,
altering bulb growing variables, and learning extensions associated with the activities
and experiments.
Craig Cramer, Communications Specialist at Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture,
provided examples of bulbs flowering at different seasons and how geophytes act
as storage reserves, allowing bulbs to grow rapidly under certain conditions. Marcia
Eames-Sheavly of the Garden-Based Learning Program at Cornell, discussed activities
and examples for using bulbs in the classroom, including experiments based on a
technique called forcing; allowing bulbs to be grown out of season. Eames-Sheavly
demonstrated how changing variables and conditions can influence how tall flowers
grow, using paper white bulbs as an example. Elly Cramer, Web Research and Development
Specialist for the NSDL, provided an overview of a newly developed site the team
of presenters is working on, known as The Bulb Project. The web site is a portal
for educators to retrieve and share information and activities related to flower
bulbs.
Twenty-one (21) participants were present at the live Web Seminar, in addition to
the presenters, the NSDL moderator, and the NSTA staff. Participating educators
represented the states of Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West
Virginia. Participants received a one-year subscription to one of NSTA’s SciGuides
for completing the evaluation form at the end of the program.
Here are some comments provided by the participants at the end of the Web Seminar:
- “This was an incredible team of experts who talked to all levels of educators-
from preschool to high school. Excellent topic, presentation and resources.”
- “I am a purple thumb gardener, but the ideas presented have given me encouragement to try working "outside my comfort zone." I think this may
also be a way to build collaborative relationships between our
science center and local groups like garden clubs.”
- “AWESOME! Many exciting ideas and activities provided for plant units.”
- “Thanks! (The Web Seminar) was educational and very fun!”
Thanks to the participants and the presenters for the learning opportunity, the interactions and a job well done!
Websites
For more information contact webseminars@nsta.org
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Underwritten by NSDL |