9th Grade Biology and Geography

9th Grade Biology

In 9th Grade Biology, students work on the scientific method, beginning with careful observation. They learn to look at the garden as a diverse ecological community, and combine observations with controlled experiments. Starting with observations and preparations in the classroom, students eventually take their observations out into the garden for hands-on life science lessons that focus on diversity as the essential characteristic of stable ecosystems.  Other lessons involve soil biology, composting and the compost food web. The garden provides opportunities for students to view, first hand, the many interactions and interdependence between plants and animals. For instance, milkweed is growing in the garden so that students can bring their monarch caterpillars, observe their emergence and then release them back into the garden

9th Grade Geography

A 9th grade geography elective allows students to plant and harvest crops from around the world while learning about trade routes and the climate and geography of the countries in which they were domesticated.

• Using the Garden to Enrich Geography and History
• World map-Origin of Crops

This section of the garden is devoted to major crops of the world. It features millet, sorghum, cotton, amaranth, potatoes, okra, rye, wheat, oats, and sugar cane. These are tied in to geography and world history. Students explore trade routes—how did potatoes get here from Ireland, and how did they get to Ireland in the first place? Sorghum is tied to a lesson on sugar and how it has moved around the world.

How can you tell the difference between rye and wheat? How are these grains used in cooking?Students explore questions like these as well as how different cultures prepare foods.

At the end of the unit, students make Geography Bars. Similar to health bars, these yummy bars use grains from the garden and connect to 9th grade geography.

• Geography Bars - Recipe
• Geography Bars - Key