English/Language Arts
Explore literary devices - alliteration
Alliterations are sprinkled throughout this Minute, starting with the Buffalo Botanical Gardens in the first sentence. See how many other alliterations students can identify in this Minute, and then discuss their impact. Are they all intentional? Have your students also take note of Author Thomas’ masterful choice of verbs, then send them to their own journals to try out some of these techniques in their own writing.
Social Studies
Explore world geography - Indonesia
Take your students to the other side of the world. Thomas tells us the plant is a native in Sumatra, but where exactly is Sumatra? Hop online to find a map and mark it on your classroom globe. What country does the island belong to? What are some significant cultural details of Indonesia?
STEM
Explore landforms - islands
Islands have unique properties, and Indonesia is home to the most active volcanoes in the world. Use this Minute to have students investigate the characteristics of islands - their formation and their relationship to plate tectonics and more.
Explore biomes - rainforest
The corpse flower is native to the rainforests of Sumatra. Use this Minute to introduce or reinforce this biome and its unique characteristics.
Explore biology - plants
This Minute is rich with opportunities for further investigation. Your students can examine seeds, bulbs and corms. Or have them explore the process of photosynthesis. Investigate pollination in plants, or talk about energy storage in the botanical realm. Consider having your students develop a set of questions and concepts they would like to explore further, and then jigsawing the information in a culminating activity where students present to each other under your guidance and supervision.
Explore decomposition - insects
Author Thomas mentions both dung beetles and carrion flies. Have your students investigate the role of insects in the decomposition process. Refer to Laurence Pringle’s Minute about vultures and compare insects’ and birds’ role in decomposition. What other insects might be part of this cycle?
Research Skills
Explore botanical gardens online
Many students will be unfamiliar with this class of museum known as botanical gardens, arboretums, or conservatories. Use this Minute to introduce them to these wonderful places. Start with a search [define botanical gardens] and then search for botanical gardens alone, and again with the words “corpse flower” to see where these plants can be seen. Identify the botanical gardens closest to your geographical location, and take a look at the quality of several sites, comparing and contrasting as students evaluate their quality. Maybe your students will stumble across the corpse flower in Huntington collection.
Explore literary devices - alliteration
Alliterations are sprinkled throughout this Minute, starting with the Buffalo Botanical Gardens in the first sentence. See how many other alliterations students can identify in this Minute, and then discuss their impact. Are they all intentional? Have your students also take note of Author Thomas’ masterful choice of verbs, then send them to their own journals to try out some of these techniques in their own writing.
Social Studies
Explore world geography - Indonesia
Take your students to the other side of the world. Thomas tells us the plant is a native in Sumatra, but where exactly is Sumatra? Hop online to find a map and mark it on your classroom globe. What country does the island belong to? What are some significant cultural details of Indonesia?
STEM
Explore landforms - islands
Islands have unique properties, and Indonesia is home to the most active volcanoes in the world. Use this Minute to have students investigate the characteristics of islands - their formation and their relationship to plate tectonics and more.
Explore biomes - rainforest
The corpse flower is native to the rainforests of Sumatra. Use this Minute to introduce or reinforce this biome and its unique characteristics.
Explore biology - plants
This Minute is rich with opportunities for further investigation. Your students can examine seeds, bulbs and corms. Or have them explore the process of photosynthesis. Investigate pollination in plants, or talk about energy storage in the botanical realm. Consider having your students develop a set of questions and concepts they would like to explore further, and then jigsawing the information in a culminating activity where students present to each other under your guidance and supervision.
Explore decomposition - insects
Author Thomas mentions both dung beetles and carrion flies. Have your students investigate the role of insects in the decomposition process. Refer to Laurence Pringle’s Minute about vultures and compare insects’ and birds’ role in decomposition. What other insects might be part of this cycle?
Research Skills
Explore botanical gardens online
Many students will be unfamiliar with this class of museum known as botanical gardens, arboretums, or conservatories. Use this Minute to introduce them to these wonderful places. Start with a search [define botanical gardens] and then search for botanical gardens alone, and again with the words “corpse flower” to see where these plants can be seen. Identify the botanical gardens closest to your geographical location, and take a look at the quality of several sites, comparing and contrasting as students evaluate their quality. Maybe your students will stumble across the corpse flower in Huntington collection.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission