Curriculum Notebook - Grades 2-Up
Interpretive Stops  1.  Along Aptos Creek  2.  Fern Grotto  3.  Twisted Grove  4.  Geologic Foundation  5.  Redwoods and Associates  6.  Magnificent Old Growth  7.  Fairy Ring in the Making  8.  Granary, Stump, and Burl  9.  The Pourroy Garden 10. The Little Slide 11. Smiley Face Stump 12. Big "Round" 13. Goosepen Tree 14. The "Advocate Tree" 15. The Ravine 16. Pourroy's Picnic Area Additional Information  Animals of Marcel's Forest		Heartbeat of a Tree Grades 2-Up Life Sciences From Grade 5 Life Sciences Standards: Plants and animals have structures for respiration, digestion, waste disposal, and transport of materials. As a basis for understanding this concept: a. Students know many multicellular organisms have specialized structures to support the transport of materials.   Objectives 1. Experience "hearing the circulation (transportation processes)" of a plant. 2. Understand that plants respire, digest, dispose of waste, and transport materials. 3. Enjoy investigating nature.   Concept Background Xylem cells within the tree conduct water from the roots to the leaves. This sap can be heard as it circulates up the tree. Deciduous trees with thinner bark are best for hearing the circulatory system of the tree. 1. All living things need food and water. Plants must circulate their life-giving "blood" just as animals do. 2. Xylem cells move this sap to the leaves.   Materials 1. A stethoscope 2. Deciduous trees in and around the Pourroy's Picnic Area, Stop 16, such as the big leave maples and the red alders on the creek embankment. For a variation of this lesson, See "Meet a Tree"   Instructions A tree is a living creature. It eats, rests, breathes and circulates its "blood" much as we do. The heartbeat of a tree is a wonderful crackling, gurgling flow of life. The best time to hear the forest heartbeat is in early spring, when the trees send first surges of sap upward to their branches, preparing them for another season of growth. Choose a tree that is at least six inches in diameter and has thin bark. Deciduous trees are generally better for listening to than conifers, and certain individuals of a species may have a louder heartbeat than others. Press a stethoscope firmly against the tree, keeping it motionless so as not to make interfering noises. You may have to try several different places on the tree trunk before you find a good listening spot. Children will want to hear their own heartbeat. Listen also to the heartbeats of mammals and birds -- the variety in sounds and rhythms is fascinating. Used by Permission and Modified from Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Bharat Cornell, published by Dawn Publications	Reminders Glossary Curriculum Notebook Materials Drawer California Science Education Website   Big Leave Maple is a deciuous tree growing at the Pourroy's Picnic Area"

 

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