Before you come to class (on Thursday, September 7th), please make sure you have reviewed the following information. You may have seen this already, but we want to make sure everyone is on the same page. If you have questions about any of the content below, feel free to email me at aemock@gmail.com or ask your questions on the first day of class. At the bottom of this post you’ll see a link to the book/documentaries spreadsheet as well as the class video, which is just for fun. 😉
Wild by Nature: Botany and Ecology
Vision Statement: Students in Wild by Nature will be able to classify, identify, and understand that basic functions and medicinal and culinary uses of a variety of plant life; begin to understand the interconnected and sophisticated design of the natural world around them; and will feel comfortable in, knowledgeable about, and find joy, peace, and adventure out-of-doors surrounded by God’s creations.
How does this class work?
In Class:
Each class period will be broken into two parts – Ecology (mostly mentored by Sister Mock) and Botany (mostly mentored by Brother Williams), with some overlap and flexibility built in. Class will be mostly hands-on and group activities including games, demonstrations, in class projects, quizzes, simulations, cooking (and eating), making medicinals, competitions with awesome/tacky prizes, etc., with some class lecture and instruction as well. Second semester will include student presentations on applicable topics chosen by the students. Both semesters include multiple field trips and guest speakers.
We will provide each student with a nature journal, a jeweler’s loupe, water and soil testing kits, an exact-o knife, and various in class materials and prizes (seeds, bulbs, posters, etc.).
Students will provide their own notebooks for taking notes in class, pens/pencils, a copy of the book Botany in a Day, a copy of How Plants Work, clothing and shoes appropriate for field trips.
Field Trips:
1st semester:
Three in-class – water and soil testing, plant identification/foraging, nature journaling
Three optional Friday/Saturday- identification/foraging, nature journaling, hiking/adventuring – all ASA students/parents invited, but rides only guaranteed for class members.
2nd semester:
Two or three in-class — plant identification/foraging, nature journaling, maybe animal tracking?
Three optional Friday/Saturday — identification/foraging, nature journaling, hiking/adventuring – all ASA students/parents invited, but rides only guaranteed for class members.
Guest Speakers:
1st Semester – One of two guest speakers during class
2nd Semester – Three or Four guest speakers during class
Potential Guest Speaker Topics: Monarch migration, native plants, Great Salt Lake ecology, Dark skies/bats/fireflies, mushrooms, city development as it pertains to ecology, bee keeping and pollinators, etc.
Homework/Student Responsibilities:
Before each class, students are expected to watch the video clips and read any short articles or web pages linked on the class blog. Occasionally, other small written assignments will be given. This class will follow the Flipped-Learning method where students are expected to come to class prepared with knowledge of the information assigned on the class blog.
Additionally…
1st semester:
- Read 2 books (from approved list) and write 2 book write-ups (half page each).
- Watch 2 documentaries (from approved list) and write 2 documentary write-ups (half page each).
- Create and finish 8 nature Journal entries (can be done at home or on ANY field trip)
Winterim
- Work on student presentation
2nd semester:
- Read 3 books (from approved list) and write 3 book write-ups (half page each).
- Watch 3 documentaries (from approved list) and write 3 documentary write-ups (half page each).
- Create and finish 10 nature journal entries (can be done at home or on ANY field trip)
- One 20-minute student presentation done in class.
Prizes anyone?
Because our class will comprise a variety of student levels (apprentice, journeyman, master), our incentive program will go as follows:
Level 1: Complete all the assignments and responsibilities listed above.
Level 2: Students and parents will discuss and come up with a student-lead goal above and beyond the Level 1 responsibilities. (Ideas include, but are NOT limited to reading an extra book or documentary and writing the appropriate write-ups each semester, a few more nature journal entries, etc.)
Level 3: Students and parents will discuss and come up with a student-lead goal above and beyond Level 2. This goal should be one that really encourages the students to reach beyond their comfort level, but is still achievable, especially with parent and mentor support. (Ideas include reading and completing write ups on even more books and documentaries, even more nature journals, an additional report on a biologist/ecologist, planting and maintaining a garden, plot studies, trips and write-ups to natural history museums/botanical gardens, art work, creative writing, related science experiments and participation in the WHEN science fair, etc.)
Each Student/Parent will fill out a form indicating the responsibilities and goals they set for themselves and turn in a copy to the Wild by Nature mentors. We’ll check in with the students as the class goes on and encourage and support. Students and their parents will report to the mentors when they’ve completed their goals. Prizes will be awarded at the ASA Graduation in April/May 2024. PRIZES ARE TBD, BUT YOU KNOW THEY WILL BE AWESOME.
LINK to the BOOK LIST (1st tab) AND DOCUMENTARY LIST (2nd tab): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GmhQUX3lLZMEkUyCLg9ate5SR73MDRpOjiQZitLk7fI/edit?usp=sharing