
Jennifer
Dittamo's
third-grade
class
at
King
Elementary
School
recently
discovered
some
unique
plants
during
a
scavenger
hunt.
The
activity
was
part
of
their
unit
on
plant
adaptations.
Because
of
concurrent
learning,
not
only
did
students
learn
about
plants
at
their
school,
but
at
their
homes
too.
The
third
grade
Standards
of
Learning
(SOL)
tests
cover
plant
and
animal
adaptations.
For
plants,
students
learn
about
the
physical
adaptations
such
as
thorns,
bark,
and
the
size
and
shape
of
leaves
that
help
the
plant
to
survive.
They
also
study
behavioral
adaptations
of
plants
such
as
dormancy
and
falling
leaves.
Dittamo's
in-person
students
searched
for
plants
in
the
schoolyard,
and
using
iPads,
took
photos
of
what
they
found.
The
virtual
students
looked
for
and
took
pictures
of
plants
outside
and
inside
of
their
homes.
Both
groups
of
students
shared
their
pictures.
"We
benefitted
from
not
being
limited
to
only
plants
in
the
schoolyard.
They
found
more
interesting
plants
around
their
homes
than
at
school,"
Dittamo
explained.
"At
school
students
found
kind
of
"normal"
things
like
pine
trees,
dormant
trees,
and
thorn
bushes.
At
home
they
found
rose
bushes,
orchids,
succulents,
and
one
student
had
a
eucalyptus
tree,"
Dittamo
added.
Students
enjoyed
the
activity.
Conner
said,
"It
made
me
free
to
explore
what
I
wanted
to
explore
instead
of
being
told
what
to
do."
Classmate
Stella
added,
"I
liked
going
outside
and
looking
at
cool
plants
to
find
their
adaptations."
The
plant
observations
inspired
some
students
to
do
more
research
on
the
plants
they
found.
They
learned
that
eucalyptus
seeds
are
adapted
to
survive
in
a
fire.
Orchids
have
something
called
"tubers"
which
help
store
water,
but
succulents
have
thick
leaves
to
store
water.
And
thorns
deter
animals
from
eating
a
plant.
Dittamo
explained
that
she
likes
to
do
hands-on
lessons
with
her
students,
especially
when
it
comes
to
science.
"The
outdoors
is
a
natural
place
to
find
science.
So,
my
hope
is
that
if
I
can
take
them
outside
to
look
at
the
trees
and
plants,
then
they
will
continue
the
discussion
with
their
families
when
they're
out
for
a
family
walk
or
visiting
a
park.
I
hope
that
these
types
of
activities
are
only
the
beginning
of
the
conversation,"
Dittamo
shared.