learn about environmental science

Orchard Scavenger Hunt

Apple Tree Growth Journal

Objective: Explore the orchard to find different types of apples, berries, and native pollinator plants.

Activity: Create a checklist of things to find, such as specific apple varieties, berry species, native plants, and different pollinators (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds). Students can mark off each item as they discover it.

Skills: Observation, species identification, teamwork.

Apple Tree Growth Journal

Objective: Document the growth and changes in apple trees throughout the year.

Activity: Assign each student a specific tree to observe and sketch each season. Students can measure its height, note the number of apples, describe its leaves and blossoms, and track changes in pollinator activity.

Skills: Science journaling, seasonal awareness, measurement.

Pollinator Plant Design

Apple Tree Growth Journal

Apple Taste Test and Math Graphing

Objective: Design a pollinator garden to support the orchard’s ecosystem.

Activity: Research native plants that attract pollinators and sketch a garden layout. Students must consider plant variety, blooming seasons, and how the garden can support pollinators throughout the year.

Skills: Ecology, garden design, research.

Apple Taste Test and Math Graphing

Objective: Compare different apple varieties and analyze preferences.

Activity: Have students taste several types of apples (e.g., Crimson Crisp, Gala, Pixie Crunch) and rank them based on sweetness, texture, and flavor. Create a class chart or graph to display the results.

Skills: Data collection, graphing, sensory analysis.

Apple Life Cycle Model

Apple Taste Test and Math Graphing

Plant-Pollinator Match Game

Objective: Understand the life cycle of an apple tree.

Activity: Students will create models (using paper, clay , or other materials) showing the life cycle stages of an apple tree—from seed to sprout, blossom, and mature fruit-bearing tree. Include stages where pollinators play a role.

Skills: Model building, understanding biological cycles.

Plant-Pollinator Match Game

Apple Taste Test and Math Graphing

Plant-Pollinator Match Game

Objective: Learn which pollinators are attracted to specific plants.

Activity: Create a matching game where students pair pollinators (bees, butterflies, hummingbirds) with the correct plants (apple blossoms, berry flowers, native flowers like milkweed or coneflowers). Discuss why certain pollinators prefer certain plants.

Skills: Ecology, species interaction, critical thinking.

Berries Around the World

Orchard Ecosystem Diorama

Berries Around the World

Objective: Learn about the different types of berries and where they are grown.

Activity: Research and map out where different types of berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.) are cultivated around the world. Discuss why certain climates are better suited for berry production.

Skills: Geography, research, global awareness.

Pollinator Role Play

Orchard Ecosystem Diorama

Berries Around the World

Objective: Understand the relationship between plants and pollinators.

Activity: Organize a role-playing game where students act as different pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.) and “visit” plants (represented by stations with pictures or models of flowers). Discuss how each pollinator helps with the process of pollination.

Skills: Active learning, understanding ecosystems, teamwork.

Orchard Ecosystem Diorama

Seasonal Changes and Pollinators

Objective: Create a visual representation of the orchard ecosystem.

Activity: Build a diorama of an orchard that includes apple trees, berry bushes, and native plants, along with pollinators. Use natural materials like leaves, twigs, and seeds. Highlight how each component contributes to the overall ecosystem.

Skills: Ecosystem modeling, creativity, collaboration.

Seasonal Changes and Pollinators

Objective: Explore how seasons affect the orchard and its pollinators.

Activity: Track the changes in the orchard across seasons. Focus on the availability of flowers for pollinators, how tree and plant growth vary, and when fruit ripens. Create a class timeline showing the seasonal stages.

Skills: Seasonal observation, critical thinking, ecology.

Orchard Storytelling Circle

Seasonal Changes and Pollinators

Orchard Storytelling Circle

Objective: Share stories about the orchard and its history.

Activity: Create a storytelling circle where students research and tell stories about the orchard—its history, the role of pollinators, the significance of apples and berries in local culture, and traditional uses of native plants.

Skills: Oral storytelling, research, cultural appreciation.

Learn About Fruit-Bearing Plants

Unique Adaptations of Pollinators

There are a variety of berry plants and apple trees here. Scroll through the website to learn more about each one!

Learn More

Unique Adaptations of Pollinators

Pollinator plants play a crucial role in the health and productivity of the orchard. Mary Scott includes native pollinator-friendly plants, such as Milkweed, which features distinctive blooms that attract vital pollinators like bees and moths. The seeds of the Milkweed are small, black, and attached to silky strands, allowing them to be easily carried by the wind and dispersed across the landscape

Pollinators needed!

Unique Adaptations of Pollinators

Why a Pollinator Garden?

Pollinating insects are just as important as pollinating plants. There are bees, hummingbirds, moths, butterflies and many more. Watch this video on the importance of bees and see.

Why are Bees Important?

Why a Pollinator Garden?

Understanding Interdependence

Why a Pollinator Garden?

Without pollinators, the trees and berry plants would never make it past the flowering stage and so would not be able to produce any fruit. A pollinator garden ensures that a lot of pollinators are around and that all the fruit-bearing plants are pollinated.

Reciprocity

Understanding Interdependence

Plants take from the soil, but also give back to it through the materials that pass through them and into the soil. This is a complementary form of co-dependence that works better for everyone!

Understanding Interdependence

A prairie-style pollinator garden is as close to what nature would look like unspoiled, as is possible. Each of the plants chosen contributes something unique through a variety of features like height, water usage, wind protection, soil replenishment, and the list goes on and on.

nature-based creative writing

Apple Orchard Poetry

During or after a visit to the orchard, write a poes inspired by the sights, smells, and sounds of the apple trees, berries, and pollinators. They can use forms such as haikus, acrostics, or free verse.

Develop Your Own Perspective!

Pick a spot to sit in the orchard and just watch for a few minutes. What do you see happening? Imagine that as the center of the world. Tell us what is going on!

Speaking Historically

Throughout the world, there are many trees that have stood in the same place for hundreds of years. Write a story about all of the historic events and changes in society that one of these trees has seen.

Write About the Trees

What Do You Think About Environmental Stewardship?

Speaking Historically

Write a short story about a leaf falling from a tree.

What Do You Think About Environmental Stewardship?

What can we do to better protect our natural world?

What Parts of the Orchard Do You Like Best?

What Do You Think About Environmental Stewardship?

Write about your favorite thing that lives outside. It can be a flower, an animal, a vegetable, etc.

Math investigations

Total Area

Calculating Apple Production

Based on 35 apple trees and 40 berry plant, how much fruit could the orchard produce each year?

Calculating Apple Production

Can you predict which trees are likely to produce the greatest yield? Does it depend on size, variety, other factors? Investigate and make a prediction.

Growing Conditions

Calculating Apple Production

Growing Conditions

The pollinator plants are located in one spot. What effect do you thihk this tight space has on how the plants grow? What percentage of the plants grow to full maturity each year?

Berry Production

Different Appearances

Growing Conditions

Based on the observations of one or more plants, can you make a prediction for how many berries it would produce across an entire growing season?

Different Appearances

The flowers in the pollinator garden are each unique. Each plant has its own symmetry. How many petals do you see on each flower? How do you think that helps the plant?