Plants, Trees, and Seasonal Changes

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Plants, Trees, and Seasonal Changes

• Lesson Introduction

Go Back
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What is a season?

• A season is one of the four
• natural parts of the year.

Winter Spring Summer
Fall
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Thinking About Seasons
Click here to see the video.
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Why do we have seasons?

• The changes of the seasons are caused by
• the changing position of the earth on its axis.

During the winter months in Ohio, our part of
the earth is slanted away from the sun.
During the summer months in Ohio, our part of the
earth is slanted toward the sun.
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The Earth spins on its axis.

• An axis is an imaginary straight line that goes
  through an object like a planet.
• The object (planet) spins around the axis.

Let's try to picture this!
Here is the imaginary straight line.
Now lets put it through the Planet!
Do you see the planet spinning around the axis?
That is almost right!
Our Planet is tilted 23.5 degrees.
Watch This!
Thats better!
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Earth Tilted on Axis
Click here to see the video.
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Let us explore seasonal changes in our area!
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We will observe five specific areas in our
Outdoor Learning Lab. Notice the seasonal
changes of the trees and plants we have selected.
Pond
West Lot
Herb Garden
ButterflyGarden
WalkingPath
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Tools

• Before you start, you will need the following
  tools for each team
• Clipboards
• Activity Sheet
• Pencil
• Colored Pencils
• Magnifying Glass
• Leaf Press

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Arborvitae

• Located in pond

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Eastern White Pine

• Located west of the parking lot, beyond the pond

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Butterfly Bush

• Located in the butterfly garden

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Celandine

• Located in the herb garden

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Maple Tree

• Located by the walking path

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Conclusion
Now you are ready to begin your observations at
the Outdoor Learning Lab. Good scientists are
like detectives. They carefully observe their
surroundings and look for clues. Remember to be
a good scientist as you begin your journey into

Plants, Trees, and Seasonal Changes