Ecosystems Grant Comes to a Close
June 30, 2020
Read the US Forest Service (USFS), Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) Arizona Community Challenge PESI Ecosystems Grant Final Report
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kcvD8NZ_BkNJFZWnpZ3RHCRT3r3X9MZn/view?usp=sharing
May 15, 2020
PESI’s participation in the US Forest Service (USFS), Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) Arizona Community Challenge Ecosystems Grant is coming to a close. The Ecosystems Grant has been such a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
Many thanks to the US Forest Service (USFS), Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) and PESI for providing the wonderful tree lessons and funding that made the grant possible. Special thanks to all our fabulous volunteers and instructors Students and teachers are busy sending in their final reports and presentations.
Student Presentations
Anna E. Lawrence 3-8 School
Tucson Unified School District
Mr. Anthony LaFreniere 7/8 Grade Science
Anna E. Lawrence 3-8 School teacher Mr. Anthony LaFreniere and students from his 7/8th grade science classes participated in the US Forest Service/Department of Forestry and Fire Management/PESI Ecosystems Grant. Below you will see some of the data they recorded from the Tree Lessons as well as student projects telling us about the importance and benefits of trees the students learned about during their investigations.
Trees are Cool!
Lesson 1 – Using a Thermometer Lab Sheet
Students took ambient air temperatures in the sun and in the shade. They made a hypothesis for each area. Look what they discovered!
Concrete that is in full sun.
Hypothesis Actual Temperature
84*F 100*F
Under the shade of a tree.
Hypothesis Actual Temperature
50*F 64*F
Trees can cool the air temperature by as much as 36 degrees!
Tree inventory
Lesson 2 – Tree Inventory Lab Sheet
Students selected a tree to closely observe. They included information about the leaves. They used estimation skills to measure the trunk circumference and the tree height.
Tree |
Leaf shape observation |
Circumference |
Height estimate |
|
Acacia |
vertically ascending |
13 - 14 inches in diameter |
13.3 to 19.7 Feet |
|
It is smooth and Flat. Acacia jennerae is an Australian import that takes its name from the town of Coonvittra in New South Wales, Australia where it grows native along creek banks and salt lakes. The trunk circumference is 0.35 meter measured at a height of 1.3 meters above the ground. Tree height estimate is 16 to 20 feet.
Field Work
Timothy G., an eighth grade student at Lawrence, documented his field work in his science notebook.
Trees are Cool!
Lesson 1 – Using a thermometer
Tree Inventory
Lesson 2 – Tree Inventory
Home/School Tree Inventory Questionnaire
The data Timothy entered will be added to the PESI Ecosystems Grant final report. This data helps us understand the importance and benefits of trees in our neighborhoods. It also helps us understand water conservation techniques being implemented by the people of Tucson.
Timothy’s Summary
Timothy’s final report details what he has learned about the benefits of trees. I hope people reading his report take some of his wonderful ideas and put them to work in our schools!
Lawrence students prepared Power Point Presentations to summarize their learning!
Trees by Annette and Andrea
Ecology Project by Destiney and Dallas
Thank you Mr. Anthony LaFreniere and Lawrence 3-8 School TUSD students for all your hard work and your participation in our Ecosystems Grant!
Blenman Elementary School
Tucson Unified School District
Mary Ortiz-Yslas 3rd Grade
Blenman Elementary School teacher Mary Ortiz-Yslas and students from her 3rd grade class participated in the US Forest Service/Department of Forestry and Fire Management/PESI Ecosystems Grant. The students created Zoom Presentations telling us important information about trees that the students learned about during their investigations. You may need a tusd email account to access their work.
Ezekiel 3rd Grade
Zoom Password: 4Z*m2%9s
Audrina 3rd Grade
Password: 8k*3=L$%
William 3rd Grade
Password: 2p#5N.*i
William and Zeke both completed the Home/School Tree Inventory.
Their data will be added to the PESI Ecosystems Grant final report. This data helps us understand the importance and benefits of trees in our neighborhoods. It also helps us understand water conservation techniques being implemented by the people of Tucson.
Thank you Mary Ortiz-Yslas and Blenman Elementary School TUSD students for all your hard work and your participation in our Ecosystems Grant!
Homer Davis Elementary School
Flowing Wells School District
Danielle VanDerlaske 3rd Grade
Ecosystems Grant Project
Hug a Tree! by Arturo 3rd Grade
Neighborhood Forests Southwest Learning Guide
Lesson 1 – Trees are Cool! 
Arturo is measuring the air temperature
in full sun in a grassy area.
Lesson 2 – Tree Inventory 
Arturo demonstrates one way to measure
the circumference of a tree.
Arturo also documented information about trees in his neighborhood.
|
Tree |
Leaf Shape Observations |
Circumference |
Height estimate |
|
|
Plane |
large leaf, pointed leaves, flexible |
48” |
20 feet |
|
|
Mulga Acacia |
pointed leaf, large, soft and very green |
32″ |
12 feet |
|
|
Thevetia |
circle leaves, green, fast dry |
32” |
24 feet |
Plant trees if you can! by Malcolm H 3rd Grade
Trees will definitely help Tucson.
One, it’s Tucson, it’s gonna be hot, and trees produce shade.
Secondly, trees produce oxygen, and the more oxygen we can get the better!
Lastly, trees are also fun to climb too.
Not saying we should do a big project on it because we are in the middle of an outbreak. sadly. Mrs. V, Can you post this online:
Plant trees if you can!
Yes we can Malcolm, and we’ll even post it twice!
Plant trees if you can!
Tree project!!! by Ulysses and Owen 3rd Grade
Thanks for watching the slideshow!
Thank you Danielle VanDerlaske and Homer Davis Elementary School FWSD students for all your hard work and your participation in our Ecosystems Grant!
Miller Elementary School
Tucson Unified School District
Ms. Karla Carmona 3rd Grade
Samantha 3rd Grade Why Are Trees Important to Us?
Nayla 3rd Grade Tree Diorama
Melissa 3rd Grade Trees
Leila 3rd Grade Life of a Tree
Karime 3rd Grade Tree Diorama
Ivanna 3rd Grade Why Trees are Important to Us
Isaiah 3rd Grade Why Are Trees Important?
Isabella 3rd Grade Tree Talk
Elianna 3rd Grade Wonderful Trees
Anthany 3rd Grade We Need Trees
Thank you Ms. Karla Carmona and Miller Elementary School TUSD students for all your hard work and your participation in our Ecosystems Grant!
Safford K-8 School
Tucson Unified School District
Ms. Shania Grijalva 3rd Grade
Safford K-8 School teacher Ms. Shania Grijalva and students from her 3rd grade class participated in the US Forest Service/Department of Forestry and Fire Management/PESI Ecosystems Grant. Below you will see some of the student projects telling us about the importance and benefits of trees the students learned about during their investigations.
Alicia 3rd Grade Do Trees Need Shade?
Fernanda 3rd Grade The Give and Take of Trees
Thank you Ms. Shania Grijalva and Safford K-8 School TUSD students for all your hard work and your participation in our Ecosystems Grant!
Pistor Middle School
Tucson Unified School District
Ms. Sonia Marya 6th Grade
Pistor Middle School teacher Ms. Sonia Marya and students from her 6th grade science classes participated in the US Forest Service/Department of Forestry and Fire Management/PESI Ecosystems Grant. Below you will see pictures of Ms. Marya at the Ecosystems Workshop training, Pistor students participating in the Ecosystems Grant Tree Lessons, and final student projects demonstrating the importance and benefits of trees that the students learned about during their investigations.
Several students collaborated with PESI Volunteers to create a science themed PowerPoint presentation to be shared with the neighborhood elementary school 5th graders at Pistor’s new student orientation.
Thank you Ms. Sonia Marya and Pistor Middle School TUSD students for all your hard work and your participation in our Ecosystems Grant!
PESI Awarded US Forestry Grant
March 1, 2019
Partners for Equitable Science Instruction (PESI) was awarded a US Forest Service (USFS), Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) Arizona Community Challenge Grant for $15,000. The grant is titled Trees and Water Conservation in Schoolyard and Community Ecosystems. It will offer professional development workshops, designed by our very own PESI instructors, in collaboration with our Community Partners, Trees for Tucson and the Watershed Management Group.
Teachers will receive a DFFM Neighborhood Forests Southwest Guide book that provides a wealth of information about the benefits of trees, including several outdoor lessons for teachers to do with their students. The workshops will cover current 3rd grade science kit curriculum, Arizona Science Standards and 3 Dimensions of Science, to help teachers build fundamental understanding for teaching the Structures of Life science kit in the classroom.
Upon completion of the workshops, teachers will be required to teach two of the outdoor tree lessons with their students. Students will then be asked to complete a Home/School Tree Inventory with their families. Culminating student developed presentations and/or tree planting projects will demonstrate student understanding of the benefits of trees and water conservation for our communities. In return, teachers will be awarded a stipend for their work, dedication and completion of all the required commitments of the Forestry Grant. The grant deadline is March 30, 2020.