Lesson 5 Unit 5 Grade 5: Soil Analysis

Tree Planting Ceremony

Goal

To find an appropriate location to plant a seedling/sapling oak tree.

Overview

Each student will conclude this unit by choosing an appropriate location for an oak seedling or acorn, and will plant it. This will include analyzing the soil and adding components to the soil to make it suitable for an oak tree to survive. Each student will write a detailed report of the testing they did on the soil, and the changes they had to make to the soil. This report will be given to the school gardener or landscaper. There will be a final ceremony and celebration to show appreciation for all their hard work.

Service Learning Component

Each student will plant an oak tree seedling or acorn on the school's campus in a spot which has the best soil to produce a nice, healthy oak tree. Each student will have to test their soil, and completely analyze it before planting their seedling or acorn. If the soil is not healthy or suitable for an oak, the student can add components in the soil to make it a place for an oak tree to survive with follow-up. There will be a ceremony following the planting of these oak seedlings or acorns, where guests will come to see what these 5th graders have learned and accomplished. The students will have made reports on their very own oaks. This report will include all of the testing that was done on the soil, and those results. They will show what the student had to add to the soil to make it suitable for an oak tree. Finally, they will reflect on this experience, and what it has meant to them. The gardener or landscaper at the school will then receive these reports so that he/she has an inventory and knowledge of the oaks planted on the school's campus.

Materials

oak seedling or acorn (valley oak)

shovel for planting oak seedling

For dirt cake:

clean terra cotta pot

oreo cookies

chocolate pudding

an artificial flower

small shovel for serving dirt cake

plates and utensils

Background Information

This lesson will require that all interested parties be included in the decision of where to plant the oak seedlings on campus. Requirement and restrictions may apply, with feasibility considerations, upkeep, timing, and health and safety of structures, people, plants and trees in immediate vicinity; other factors that must be taken into consideration. Be familiar with transplanting seedlings, spacing of seedlings, and sapling care. In 'Oaks of California', pages 125-127, deal with Oak preservation and restoration, pages 54-56, for soil considerations, pages 10-12 for valley oak information, and pages 5 and 6 for acorns/seedlings information. The teacher may want to become familiar with different types of acorns, how to differentiate healthy acorns from non viable ones, and general seed planting and transplanting directions in order to be successful. (See also Lessons 5,6, & 7 in Adopt-A-Watershed TREES, and Activities 1, 3, 4, & 5 in SEED TO SEEDLING.)

Vocabulary

seedling sapling

ceremony dormant

Advance Preparation/Thoughts for Teachers

1. Make sure that there is a suitable location on campus to plant these acorns and/or seedlings. If there are not many locations, divide the students into groups accordingly.

2. Get any approval necessary before planting.

3. Make invitations for the principal, parents, the high school FFA soil team other classes, etc... inviting them to the tree planting ceremony. The class could do this.

4. Call local newspaper or TV station to see if they want to come out to do a story on this special event.

6. Make the dirt cake. Directions: blend oreos into soil size pieces. Make pudding as directed. Alternate layers of oreos and pudding, ending with oreos on top. Place flower in pot. Use small shovel to serve.

Note: After the class decides what the best location will be for the tree, you will need to dig the hole before the planting ceremony.

Setting the Stage for Reflections

1. Facilitate a discussion with the students, based on what they have learned in this unit, on what soil conditions are most suitable for oaks to grow in.

Procedures/Reflection*

PART ONE (day one):

1. As a class, scout the campus for appropriate locations. You may want to divide the class up into partners or small groups, or have them work individually.

2. Have the class examine the soil make-up of various locations on campus and test the acidity, depth, and water holding capability of possible locations for the tree. Have them analyze the components and judge the class of the soil.

3. Have each member or small group pick an appropriate location for the future valley oak tree.

4. Have a student from each group make a very short speech for the following day's ceremony on why this location was picked for the growth of their tree.�� They will explain to the guests the soil make up and the acid make up, as well as the addition of soil components that were added to make this location the very best for this oak tree.

5. Make invitations for other classes, parents, principal, etc...

6. Teacher will prepare the dirt cake.

PART TWO (day two):

1. Transport the seedlings to appropriate locations

2. Students give speech

3. Plant the tree.

4. Photograph the occasion.

5. Return to class and have a party. Serve dirt cake and enjoy.

Wrap up: Reflection/Evaluation

Students will write a report on their choice for the location. They will show all the testing they did, and write up the results. They will also write a reflection paragraph on what was learned from this process, and why they felt this was an important process. This report, after it is checked and graded, will be shown to the campus gardener or landscaper for their own information.

Extensions/Suggestions/Connections

Perhaps try planting the seed/acorn at different depths or with the cap size up/down, and the tapered end up/down to see if it makes a difference in rate of sprouting or initial viability. Remember that this and the previous lesson can be a year long ongoing activity. When transplanting, know about the possibility of 'shocking the plant' if you do not do this at the proper time and in the proper way. Find out/decide who all will be responsible for transplanting the tree, permission needed, and its maintenance. Make a really big occasion out of this, like Arbor Day, complete with advertisements and invitations, perhaps have families help with planting and refreshment preparations. Have the students justify their oak tree plantings necessity with speeches at the ceremony. Will your seedlings be ready for the great outdoors in Spring? Will posts, markers, paint, planters or stakes be needed? Consider constructing signs so that other people or machines do not harm the tree. What other kinds of factors must be taken into consideration when planting a tree? Most cities or counties have an approved list of trees that they plant for different reasons. Height, width, visibility, water needs, decay/wrought, ability to withstand stormy/windy weather, deciduous vs. evergreen, toxicity, how much leaves, seeds and other debris the tree drops are just some other things to think about. Invite someone from the city, county, district, or agricultural specialist that deals with public trees to come and talk with the students about what trees grow in their area and how they decide which ones are to be planted and why.