French Leaf Identification Worksheets

I've made some french versions of my leaf identification handouts and worksheets. They are now available here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/French-Leaf-Identification-Worksheets-Fiches-didentification-des-feuilles-7123234

These are great for fall tree walks and for french language, science and art activities. I have enjoyed using them as part of an interdisciplinary approach to the Ontario Science curriculum. Students collect and identify leaves. Then they complete a scientific illustration about their leaf. After that we learn about the communities and habitats of the trees and the species that live around our school.

- Patrick

Leaf Identification Worksheets

I have just added a new resource to my TeachersPayTeachers site that I am excited about. My class had a great time using these this fall. These are worksheets that teach how to identify deciduous and coniferous trees based on the characteristics of leaves. These are cross-curricular worksheets that combines science, environment, art, language and outdoor activity. This resource works well with any age level. It works with the science curriculum, outdoor exploration, student inquiry project, visual arts and language.

- Patrick

Tree identification Unit

 I've just finished a new teaching resource that is available on my teacherspayteachers page here:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tree-Identification-Unit-6641761

This resource is a cross-curricular unit plan for Grade 4 Communities and Habitats, from the Ontario curriculum. It combines science, environment, art, language and outdoor activity. This resource can be used for a variety other learning purposes. It can work well with Grades 4, 5 and 6 for science curriculum, outdoor exploration, student inquiry project, visual arts and language. 

I created this unit based on lessons, activities and ideas that I worked out in the classroom. It is an engaging unit that kids will enjoy and is also fun to teach!

- Patrick 

Sci Art Field Trip to Allen Gardens!

The art studio blog that I contribute to: Saw-Whet Studio is organizing a field trip for anyone interested- and not students for once! This is definitely in line with the post I made a few weeks ago about Cross-curricular Learning. Here's a chance for you to start (or add to) your own "Grail Diary" project. This Science/Art trip will take place in Toronto at the beautiful (and free) Allen Gardens, on Saturday, October 22nd, 12-2pm. All are welcome!

- Patrick

Neil Degrasse Tyson & David Byrne explaining the importance of art education

Here's a great, quick video of Neil Degrasse Tyson and David Byrne explaining the importance of art education: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/startalk/videos/the-importance-of-art-education/

I think what they are saying is that education/real learning is interdisciplinary in nature. Studying art and science go well together - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. You will become a better engineer or scientist if you study art and you will become a better artist if you study science.

I'm currently developing my first online course (for Blyth Academy Online), and it's a Grade 12 Interdisciplinary Studies course on Museum Studies. It combines visual arts, social sciences, marketing and technology to introduce students to the world of museums and galleries. I'm really enjoying putting it together and it should be up and running by February 2017. More info to come...

Thanks to the OAEA for making it easy for me to find this video!

- Patrick

Fibonacci Trees

The Fibonacci sequence is a fun way to show students how math and pattern can be found in art and nature. I've used this subject in the Grade 10-12 Visual Arts classes, in the aesthetics unit of the Grade 12 Philosophy course - and I've seen it used in Science, Math and Computer Science classes as well. This is a great example of a rich interdisciplinary topic for students to explore.

The basics about the Fibonacci numbers can be found here.

In the image above, I used the Fibonacci sequence to space the trees and the levels of the branches. This would be a good Visual Arts project, have students research the numbers, develop various templates and grids based on the sequence and use the spatial relationships to create an image.

- Patrick