The Polly Hill Arboretum on Martha's Vineyard

Enrich your science curriculum with one of our exciting field study programs! The Polly Hill Arboretum provides a wonderful outdoor science laboratory where children of all ages can explore trees, plants and flowers. All of our programs are inquiry based, encouraging each student to discover the wonders of nature through careful observation, documentation and sharing of ideas. Each program provides a one hour classroom pre-visit taught by our Youth Program Coordinator followed by a field trip to the Arboretum. The required time at the Arboretum is between an hour and an hour and a half depending on the age group. All field study programs are free and are conducted in the fall and spring on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30-12:30. At the Arboretum classes are divided into small groups, each with a trained guide to facilitate their outdoor experience. Our goal is to work with island teachers to offer programs which best meet their specific curriculum needs. As we continue to expand our offerings, we welcome recommendations for new programs.

PROGRAMS OFFERED

FLOWERS CHANGE: FROM BUD TO FRUIT

Offered in the Spring, grades K-4

In the spring students will enjoy the vibrant colors of the plants and trees in bloom at the arboretum. With hand lenses they will closely examine many flowers and learn to recognize both the male and female parts of each flower and develop an understanding of how new plants grow. Different plant stages are investigated as plants go through their life cycles from bud to fruit. In both the classroom pre-visit and at the Arboretum students will discover the function of each part of a plant and be able to identify the stages that every plant goes through as flowers change to make seed production possible.

NATIVE TREES/NATIVE PEOPLE

Offered in the Fall and Spring, grades 3-5

This program focuses on the trees and plants that provided food, shelter, and medicine to some of the earliest inhabitants of Martha’s Vineyard, the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah. In this field experience, with the help of a trained guide, students explore the Arboretum using clues to help locate those trees that helped the Wampanoag Tribe survive the long, cold winter months on the island. Science, nature and history are woven together in a story which describes the Vineyard’s cultural heritage. Students will closely examine the unique characteristics of each native tree and document their observations with drawings and written descriptions. Each group will observe how trees are alike and how they are different by making a collection of both deciduous and evergreen trees.

HOW SEEDS TRAVEL: PLANTS IN AUTUMN

Offered in the Fall, grades K-4

Every autumn trees and plants disperse their seeds in many ways. Students will focus on how and why seeds travel. They will closely examine a variety of seed packages and predict the strategies that plants and trees use to disperse their seeds in order to find the best place to grow. During the classroom visit students use hand lenses to look at seeds and seed packages and categorize the seeds into those that travel by wind, travel by animal, or fall into the mystery category for their seed dispersal strategy. Once at the Arboretum, students will continue their investigations in small groups with a trained guide. Students will be involved in scientific research documenting what they see with sketches and field notes.

NATURE JOURNALING

Offered in the Fall and Spring, grades 4-8

This new program focuses on how to keep a nature journal. After a brief tour of the Arboretum, students choose a special place where they would like to do their journaling. All students are encouraged to be scientists as they discover different ways to record what they see in nature. Students will draw and describe in their own words all the little details that they observe as they become completely immersed in their outdoor world. Trained guides will help these young scientists elaborate on their findings and help them share their observations with their peers.

SEASONAL INVESTIGATION OF TREES

Offered Early Spring to mid June, grades 2-6

This program is designed for those classes that want to incorporate a more in depth study of trees into their curriculum. Classes must be able to make 3 or 4 trips to the Arboretum between early spring to mid June. Each child will closely observe a specific tree; studying twig features in early spring, the tree’s growth as buds develop, and finally enjoy the flower stage as the tree bursts into bloom. Students will all be scientists making predictions, collecting data, taking measurements, and documenting all that they see in their journals. As the students observe their tree’s life cycles and really get to know “their tree" they begin to understand the importance trees and plants have for all of us, and our responsibility to care for the land.

TEACHERS INTERESTED IN INCORPORATING THIS MATERIAL INTO THEIR CURRICULUM SHOULD CONTACT THE YOUTH PROGRAM COODINATOR, BETSY DRIPPS AT 508-693-9426 OR EMAIL: betsy@pollyhillarboretum.org

LAST FALL 23 DIFFERENT CLASSES ENJOYED OUR WONDERFUL OUTDOOR SCIENCE LABORATORY. JOIN THE FUN!

VOLUNTEER AS A SCHOOL GUIDE. What a wonderful way to work with children, enjoy the Arboretum and meet new friends who enjoy the outdoors as much as you do. If you are interested in helping out please call Betsy Dripps.