The Nonvascular plants at Black Rock Forest
Grade Levels
9th-12th
Subjects
Living Environment
Keywords
Forest Locations
Students will use 1.- Science center
2.- The Upper Reservoir
3.- The glacier black Rock
Materials
MATERIALS
Moss Forcepts
Light microscope Paper towel
Microscope slides Metric ruler
Cover slip Dropper
Hand lens.
Schedule
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
8 A.M. = Leave of the school .
8.30 A.M. : = Arrive to Black Rock Forest.
8.35 a.m. = Organize students in groups of three students and responsibities
8.40 a.m. = Distribution of materials ( rulers, plastic bags , markers, forceps , paper towel)
8.45 a.m. = Present the power point presentation to introduce the non-vascular plants characteristics and the life cycle of a moss.
9.00 a.m. = Walk to the streams close to the Science center.
9.15 a.m. = Place the moss plant in the paper towel examine with the hands lens
Measure their lengh to millimeters..
9.30 a.m. = Walk to the black rock glacier
9.40 a.m. = Observe the moss ( color texture , etc) take some samples.) time spent in discussion
10..10 a.m. = Arrive to the Upper Reservoir
10.20 a.m. = Observe the moss in this area,take samples,observe the species using the hands lens.
Measure the moss of the area, color, height, type of soil etc..
11..00 a.m. = Arrive to the Science center
11.10 a.m. = Break
11.15 a.m. = Complete the chart according to your observations ., Time spent in discussion
11.30 a.m. = Observation of the moss using the hands lens.( parts , height, color , external structure etc.
12 a.m. = Observation of the moss cells using the microscope. Recognize chloroplasts .
12.15 a.m. = Observation of the leaves structure .Draw and color.
12.30 a.m. = Observation of the spore capsule at the end of the brownish stalk .
12.30 = Observation of the spores.Draw and color , label each part of the capsule and spores.
13.00 = Answer the questions. Discuss the topic
13.30 = Lunch
13.45 = Return all the Lab materials to their place .Clean all the tables
14.00 = Return to the school..
Pre-Forest Activity
Students will recognize the difference in the plants : vascular and non vascular
Students will be introduce to the forest environment using a You tube video related to the forest.
Read the project of " The mosses at Madre de Dios -Peru" to recognize the variety of leaves of mosses.
Forest Activity
ROOT LIKE HAIRS
TOPIC : NON VASCULAR PLANTS
LAB 1.1
MAIN QUESTION : WHAT ARE SOME TRAITS OF A NON VASCULAR PLANTS?
SKILLS
Interpret data, use of microscope ,measure in SI , infer, make and use data table.
MATERIALS
Moss Forceps paper towel
Light microscope Metric ruler dropper
Cover slip Microscope slides Hands lens
PROCEDURE
1.- Copy the data table
2.- Place the moss plant on the paper towel and examine it with the hand lens.
3.- Measure in SI : find the hair like structures that act as roots for the moss. Measure their height to millimeters . Complete the table.
4.- Observe the stem part with the hand lens. Complete the table for this part.
5.- Observe the leaf parts with the hand lens.
6.- Use the forceps to remove the one of the leaves . make a wet mount slide and observe the cell .
7.- Find the chloroplasts in the cells Determine how thick the leaf is moving the fine focus up and down.
8.- Recognize the sexual cells from the cell capsule.
DATA TABLE
PART |
COLOR |
SHAPE |
LENGTH |
HEIGHT |
ROOT LIKE HAIRS |
||||
STEM |
||||
LEAF |
||||
SPORE CASE |
|
|
Post-Forest Activity
Students will use their data table to do comparisons between the three places. Recognize the importance of the mosses in the ecosystems.
Students will answer questions related to the mosses : Which part of the mosses are green?
":. What shapes are mosses leaves ?
Assessments
ANALYZE AND APPLY
INFER
How are the green parts used by a moss?
Describe the overall size of the plant.
How many cell layers are in the moss leaves?
APPLY
Why do moss plants live in moist areas?
EXTENSION
Identify the parts of a moss plant in the diagram:
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING:
1.- How do mosses and liverworts take up water?
2.- How are most important?
3.- How do mosses reproduce?
4.- How might a mat of mosses protect the black rock forest floor?
5.- What would be the effect on these plats if the climate became drier?
Learning Standards
HS-LS2-1 Use mathematical and or computational representations to support explanations of biotic and abiotic factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.HS-LS2-2 Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.
HS-LS2-6 Evaluate the claims, evidence and reasoning that complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS – LS2-7 Design, evaluate and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
HS – LS2-8 Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on
individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce.
Curriculum
THE NON VASCULAR PLANTS : MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS
INTRODUCTION
When we study plants , we need to classify them as vascular and non -vascular plants . A vascular plants are plants that present roots,leaves,flowers and fruits;
but we observe that not all the plants present the same components , these plants are the non-vascular plants.Plants that don't have roots but they are very
important components of the ecosystem.
You may have seen mosses as a lush ,green leafy mat at the floor of a forest or on rocks by a stream. A moss is a small non- vascular plant that has both stems and
leaves but no roots.
If you looked close to the ground you may have seen smaller patches of green plants that looked wet and slippery . These are liverworts.
They are only few centimeters tall. Both species help hold the soil in place to keep it from washing away.
Mosses and Liverworts are two very similar kinds of non-vascular plants , they are fixed to the surface of the ground or tree trunks by hair like cells that they take up
water.
Objectives
- Student will be able to compare mosses and liverworts with other plants.
2. Sequence the steps in the life cycle of a moss.
3. How do leaves and stems of mosses and liverworts differ from those in vascular plants?
4 . List three ways mosses are important to other living things.
5.- Conclude: Why mosses are very important in the soil preservation at Black Rock Forest?.
Background
The Non-Vascular plants such Mosses and Liverworts are a very important factors in an ecosystem; They have a fine,soft stems that often grow upright in mats. The leaves
of mosses are only one or two cells thick and they will soon dry out if taken from their moist environment.
Leaf shapes of mosses vary and moss species can be classified by their leaves.The Liverworts don't have roots ,stems or leaves; the body of these species is often flat
that lies close to the ground or rock .,Some of them are food for some animals such as worms and snails.
The non vascular plants such as mosses and liverworts need constant supply of water to survive. They need water for their sexual reproduction, because the female
reproductive cell called egg joins with the male reproductive cell called sperm thank you to the water . The join of sperm and eggs is called fertilization.situation that we
are going to observe in the life cycle of a moss.
Exists an investigation about the mosses " The Mosses at Madre de Dios , Peru " where the investigators found different types of mosses ,because the level of humidity is
very high ,the altitude ,temperature and the type of soil permits the presence of different types of mosses..
Safety Concerns
1.- Students need to arrive on time to take the bus .
2.- Students need t use insect repellent.
3.- Students need to use long sleeve shirt and long pants.
4.- Students need to use boots or sneakers.
Comments
1.-This lesson could be used by Middle school students and High school students.
2.- Teacher needs to bring his projector and laptop to present the lesson introduction.
3.- Do copies of the lab.
4.- Bring colors and pencils ,
