Plants 2007

Course Description:
Through hands-on investigation and discussion, teachers will increase their knowledge and ability to apply inquiry-based methods of teaching botany and ecology with focus on grades 3-8. Topics covered at the organismal level will include plant anatomy, structure and function, seed germination and plant growth, transpiration and water movement, photosynthesis, and mineral nutrition. Topics covered at the ecological level will include human uses of plants, food chains, niches, symbiotic relationships, adaptations, biomes, species diversity, tree identification, and environmental impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Teachers will also explore experimental design, data collection, and graphing using the results of plant-based experiments.

Class Hours:
Monday, June 25 through Wednesday, June 27
Daily 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, with a one hour lunch break

Class Rooms and Labs:
Class will be split into two sections, based on teacher-participants' grade level.
One section will meet in Guion 106; One section will meet in Guion 018.
Groups will switch mid-day.

Grading and Grading Options:
The course may be taken under either the graded or pass/credit/no credit options.
(Please note that under the P/C/NC option, a grade of C- or better is required for the pass.)
Under the graded option, Sweet Briar uses the following grading scale:
A (4.0), A- (3.7), B+ (3.3), B (3.0), B- (2.7), C+ (2.3), C (2.0), C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D (1.0), D- (0.7), F (0)
It is the teacher-participant's responsibility to choose the grading option he/she needs to fulfill his/her requirements for licensure, certification, or renewal. Once chosen, the option may not be reversed.

Required Pre-Course On-Line Survey - (not graded – if completed, full credit; if not completed, automatic failure)	10%
Participation - active, engaged participation in all class activities, discussions, and labs is expected of all teacher-participants	55%
Homework - two homework assignments will be given; one worth 5% and one worth 10%	15%
End-of-Course On-Line Survey - instructions and deadline will be given on the last day of class;survey must be completed by midnight on Friday the 29 th	20%

	Monday, June 25		Tuesday, June 26		Wednesday, June 27
	Group 1	Group 2	Group 1	Group 2	Group 1	Group 2
Morning 9:00 - Noon	Plant growth and morphology, plant cells	Plant classification, human uses of plants and tree identification	Water and nutrition; data collection and graphing	Diversity, habitats, tolerances, and adaptations	Photosynthesis and experimental design	Food chains and food webs, developing observational skills
Lunch
Afternoon 1:00 – 4:00	Plant classification , human uses of plants and tree identification	Plant growth and morphology, plant cells	Diversity, habitats, tolerances, and adaptations	Water and nutrition; data collection and graphing	Food chains and food webs, developing observational skills	Photosynthesis and experimental design

Dr. Janet Steven	Dr. Heather Griscom
117 Guion Science Center	204 Burress Hall
Department of Biology	Department of Biology
Sweet Briar College	James Madison University
24595	22801
434-381-6365	540-908-7294
jsteven@sbc.edu	griscohp@jmu.edu