During the month of September, students from Colton-Pierrepont Central School participated in the Monitor My Maple Project through Nature Up North.  Through this citizen science project, students at different grade levels are asked to monitor the phenology of the maple trees around campus over the course of several weeks. 

Students in the sixth grade participated in the Monitor My Maple project during their study of plants and photosynthesis.  Students were able to apply the concepts discussed in class to their environment immediately. While observing the trees, recording data, and taking a leaf samples from their tree, students deepened their understanding of the structure of a plant and function each structure.  Sixth grade students also measured the diameter off their tree.  The long-term goal of the project is to have the students revisit their tree as a student in Living Environment once they reach high school.  

“ As we were getting ready for the Fall season, we had fun monitoring our maple trees and getting fresh air while learning outside.”  6th Grade Students

High school Living Environment students also participated in the Monitor My Maple project.  Students began the unit by reading an article learning about factors that influence color change and the different color pigments in leaves.  The L.E. students then took the lesson outside where they practiced tree identification and collected data from the maples trees on campus.  They will continue monitoring their trees over the course of several weeks, recording their weekly observations on the Nature Up North (NUN) website.

“We are able to go outside instead of sit in the classroom.  It was interesting to see how the trees change over time, how the colors just consume the trees.” -- Josh Flanagan 

“You can get more involved in nature, which some kids are lacking.”--Isaiah Wilmart

This is the second year CPCS has participated in the Monitor My Maple project.  Last year, a guest from NUN assisted and helped students identify trees, collect,and record data.  This year, NUN provided tree tags that high school students used to number the maple trees around campus.  With the help of NUN last year, we were able to execute the project on our own this fall.   NUN offers many resources to ensure students are engaging in their natural world to understand life sciences and ecology.   Students were excited to learn outside the classroom and to have an authentic learning experience using all their senses.    

Look for more updates from Colton-Pierrepont soon!

Jennifer Morill and Eniko Gilbert