Topic: Conifers

Author: Elżbieta Szedzianis

Target group

Students of the 5th grade of an elementary school.

Core curriculum

5th grade

4) Gymnosperms – student:

a) presents the features of the external structure of gymnosperms on the example of pine,

b) recognizes representatives of native gymnosperm trees,

c) explains the importance of gymnosperms in nature and for humans;

The general aim of education

The students explain the terms gymnosperms and conifers, observe, describe and identify selected conifers.

Criteria of success

• You will identify four conifers based on their needles and cones;

• You will show a cone and prove that it belongs to gymnosperms;

• You will draw a mind map.

Methods / techniques

Mind map, workshop method, direct and indirect observation, work with text.

Individual work, work in groups.

Teaching aids

• abstract;

• interactive or traditional board;

• tablets/computers;

• grey paper;

• pens;

• twigs of spruce, pine, fir, larch, yew;

• cones of larch, pine, spruce.

Lesson plan overview (Process)

Introduction

1. The teacher informs that on the current lesson the students will learn about domestic conifers. The teacher describes how to work on the lesson and gives criteria of success.

2. The teacher asks the students to perform interactive task No. 1.

Realization

1. The teacher asks the students to read the first and the second paragraphs from the text entitled „Living environment of gymnosperms” and write a note in the form of a mind map, using the teacher's written proposal. The teacher asks the students to prepare colourful markers, as the colours will be used to highlight the thoughts they choose concerning gymnosperms. After writing the responses, the students can make some of the arrows bolder - the ones they think are important pieces of information. At the end of each branch of the map, they can make an illustration for the given information.

The students sign the maps that the teacher collects. The teacher hangs the best ones in the classroom.

2. The teacher gives each student twigs of spruce, pine, fir, larch, yew and a key for marking. Using the key, the students set the names of the plants, then they hang the cards with the names on the twigs. They can work individually, but they can also help themselves. After finishing the work, they check with other students if they have done the job well.

3. The students in groups of four look at the cones (larch, pine, spruce) provided with labels with names. They shake the seeds from them. They explain why conifers are gymnosperms.

4. The teacher displays a modified text from topic 7 on the screen: „Meaning of gymnosperms” - the first paragraph and the last three sentences of the second paragraph. The sentences are numbered. The teacher asks the students to count from 1 to 10 (there are so many sentences) and each of them reads the sentence with his number. The students indicate key words (expressions) in the sentences that describe the meaning of conifers.

They write a note in their notebooks, first a heading: „Meaning of conifers”, and then keywords given by subsequent students.

Summary

1. The teacher displays gallery 3 on the screen. „Domestic coniferous trees and bushes”. The teacher asks the selected students to describe the characteristics of the plants shown in the illustrations (description of needles, cones, plant habit). The teacher describes the arils of the yew and the juniper plant.

Homework for keen students.

Present the content of the topic entitled „Meaning of gymnosperms” in the form of a mind map.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Conifers

Gymnosperms are vascular plants that, although they do not give fruit, spread with seeds. Most gymnosperms are conifers, and they are called like that because of the structure of their leaves that take the shape of needles.

Gymnosperms are trees and shrubs that live only on land. They grow from the equator to the Arctic circles, on mountain slopes, wet lowlands and semi‑deserts. In North America and Eurasia, in the cold temperate climate zone, they form large forest complexes called taiga. In the temperate climate zone, where there is no permafrost, they form coniferous forests or mixed forests. They also find appropriate living conditions in the mild and warm climate zones of the Mediterranean. Conifers in the northern hemisphere are, among others, pine, fir, spruce, larch. In warm and humid climate zones there are, for example, cedars, cypresses, and redwoods.

Coniferous plants are a characteristic element of Polish landscapes. They can be easily identified by the presence of needles and cones. Among native species, the most common are: Norway spruce, European fir, European larch, common yew, common juniper and various species of pine trees. Many species of conifers found in Poland are plants that do not occur naturally in our environment, and they are mainly imported as decorative and functional plants.

Norway spruce grows in north‑eastern Poland and in higher parts of mountains. It can reach about 45 m in height. It has short, sharp, angular and prickly needles that grow out of the shoot one by one and stay on it for 5‑7 years. Its long and cylindrical cones hang freely from twigs, and when ripe they fall to the ground.

European fir occurs in the south of Poland in lower parts of mountains. It is a huge tree with a dense crown growing up to 50 m in height. Its flat needles grow out one at a time. They are rounded at the top and do not sting like spruce needles. They are dark green on the top and have two white stripes on the underside. Fir cones are cylindrical, and before they mature, they stand on branches, and after ripening they fall apart into single husks.

European larch grows up to 35 m in height. It has light green, soft needles that grow in bunches, and turn yellow in autumn and fall. Cones are small, ovate, directed upwards.

Common yew can be found in natural habitats in mountains and in north‑western Poland. It is usually a shrub or a small tree. It has flat, soft, sharp‑edged dark green needles with a light green bottom. The yew does not produce cones, its seeds are surrounded by a red juicy cover – aril. The whole plant, with the exception of the aril which the birds feed on, has poisonous properties. Cultivated yew species are often planted in parks and gardens. Yews belong to long‑lived plants. It is estimated that they can live up to 3 thousand years.

Common juniper is a shrub commonly found in pine forests. It has short, blue‑green, sharp and prickly needles, growing in threes around the shoot. In autumn, fleshy, navy‑blue cones are formed on them.

Swiss pine occurs in the Tatra Mountains. It is a tree reaching 20 m in height. It can be recognized by five long and stiff needles growing from the shortened shoot. Its ovoid pine cones fall apart, releasing seeds without wings.

Dwarf mountain pine is a species of pine. It forms shrubby thickets in the upper parts of mountains. Its short and very stiff needles grow in twos from the shortened shoot. Cones are small and roundish.

• Gymnosperms are typical land plants inhabiting the environments of the whole Earth, being the main component of taiga, coniferous forest and an admixture of mixed forests.

• Gymnosperms produce roots, stems and leaves, and seeds that develop on bare scales of female cones.

• Seeds are organs that protect the embryo and provide it with nutrients in the first stage of life. They are also used for spreading of plants.

• Most gymnosperms are conifers, wind‑pollinated and wind‑borne plants.