Plant Nature Study II by Jacob Joshua Levison Plant Nature Study II by Jacob Joshua Levison    

Lesson 5: Deciduous - The Ash

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

• Read the lesson.
• Review the synopsis.
• Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
• Learn the concepts.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

This lesson introduces the white ash tree, a rapidly growing tree with a straight trunk and compound leaves. The scientific (Latinized) name of the white ash tree is Fraxinus americana.

Vocabulary

Simple Leaf: A leaf that has an undivided blade, therefore having no leaflets.
Compound Leaf: A leaf that has a fully subdivided blade, therefore having leaflets.
Apex: The end of a leaf.
Vein: A thickened portion of the leaf which transports water, minerals, sugars, and nutrients.
Lamina: The blade or flat part of a leaf or leaflet.
Petiole: The stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem.
Bud: A newly sprouted leaf or blossom that has not yet unfolded.

Concepts

SIMPLE VS. COMPOUND LEAVES

The white ash tree has compound leaves, or those with a fully subdivided blade and leaflets.

Review the parts of a leaf.

1. Apex
2. Midvein (Primary vein)
3. Secondary vein
4. Lamina
5. Leaf margin
6. Petiole
7. Bud
8. Stem

Compare a simple leaf with the compound leaf of the mountain ash, which is divided into leaflets.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

• After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Lesson Pictures

• Study the lesson pictures and describe how they relate to the lesson.

Activity 3: Take a Nature Walk

• Bring a small sketchbook and a specimen collection bag and embark on a nature walk.
• Find a tree with compound leaves.
• Study and sketch the appearance and habitat of the tree.
• Collect one or more compound leaflet clusters from the tree as specimens.
• Use the gathered specimens and sketches to create the field book entry.

Activity 4: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 11 in 'Science Field Book for Fourth Grade.'

Review

Question 1

How are simple and compound leaves different?

1 / 4

Answer 1

Simple leaves have an undivided blade while compound leaves are divided into leaflets.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is Fraxinus americana?

2 / 4

Answer 2

Fraxinus americana is the scientific name of the white ash tree.

2 / 4

Question 3

Given Fraxinus americana, which name denotes the genus?

3 / 4

Answer 3

Given Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus denotes the genus.

3 / 4

Question 4

Given Fraxinus americana, which name denotes the species?

4 / 4

Answer 4

Given Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus americana denotes the species.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. How are simple and compound leaves different? Simple leaves have an undivided blade while compound leaves are divided into leaflets.
2. What is Fraxinus americana? Fraxinus americana is the scientific name of the white ash tree.
3. Given Fraxinus americana, which name denotes the genus? Given Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus denotes the genus.
4. Given Fraxinus americana, which name denotes the species? Given Fraxinus americana, Fraxinus americana denotes the species.

References

'Studies of Trees' by Jacob Joshua Levison. gutenberg.org/ebooks/16116. n.p.

'Fall Ash Leaves by Famartin(CC BY-SA 4.0)' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraxinus_americana#/media/File:2015-10-21_10_57_30_White_Ash_foliage_during_autumn_along_Pennington_Road_(New_Jersey_Route_31)_in_Ewing,_New_Jersey.jpg. n.p.