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Original Broadcast Date: May 6, 2004
Recommended Grade Levels: 5th through 12th
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The journey of the Corps of Discovery was a scientific mission as well as a diplomatic one, and Lewis and Clark made significant scientific contributions during the journey, as they documented 300 species of plants and animals that were new to western science at that time. This videoconference will focus on how Lewis and Clark identified and preserved new plant specimens as they journeyed west. Also learn about the diverse eco-regions the expedition traveled through. Bob Coulter, manager of curriculum development in the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Education Division, will lead students through an interactive lesson centered on the basics of plant taxonomy and preservation and eco-region identification. Featured student participants will also share their knowledge with Mr. Coulter and other students in the videoconference as they present findings of their own concerning plants and the expedition.
Contents of the Broadcast:
- Opening to 10:09--This segment includes an Introduction, welcome, orientation to the day's topic, and introduction of guests Jim Solomon, botanist with the Missouri Botanical Garden and Scott Mandrell from the Discovery Expedition. Mr. Solomon and Mr. Mandrell present information on what a botanist does, the purpose of plant identification and preservation, and on Lewis' naturalist upbringing and botany training in Philadelphia. Video footage from the Missouri Botanical Garden herbarium and library shows part of their plant specimen collection and 1803 editions of Barton's Elements of Botany and Micheaux's Fora Boreali-Americana.
- 10:09 to 32:53--This section takes us into the world of plant taxonomy. Mr. Solomon works with the students in the audience to show them how a plant specimen is taken from the wild and how to identify it. Students are taken through the process of identifying a flowering plant using a dichotomous key. Student questions are included about his work as a botanist, about Lewis' training and upbringing and about the process of plant identification.
- 32:53 to 46:18--In this segment, Mr. Solomon takes the students through the process of using a plant press to preserve a plant specimen. Student questions about this process, and other areas dealing with plants and the expedition are included.
- 46:18 to 1:07:51--The focus of the program shifts to descriptions of three major biomes that the expedition traveled through. Students from St. Clement School in Des Peres, Missouri present information about the biome of the eastern woodlands and students from Woodburn High School in Woodburn, Oregon present information on the biome of the temperate rainforest. Other information is included on the grasslands by Bob Coulter from the Missouri Botanical Garden. In addition, Mr. Coulter also takes the students through the use of a new software program developed by the Missouri Botanical Garden and available to teachers that includes a wide array of data on the geography, plant and animal life, climate, and other environmental topics associated with the route of the expedition. Student questions are included.
- 1:07:51 to End--Closing comments, final questions from student groups and e-mail questions from the Internet audience on methods of plant preservation, vascular vs. nonvascular plants, and plants preserved from the original expedition, thanks to all involved, and goodbye.
This videoconference is the nineteenth in a series that will continue over the next three years as part of the National Bicentennial Commemoration of the original expedition of the Corps of Discovery.
For more information concerning future videoconferences in this series contact: lewisandclark@clayton.k12.mo.us
Lewis and Clark Then and Now is co-sponsored by the School District of Clayton, Missouri and the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles. Financial support is provided by a grant from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program.
Additional national collaborators include: Photo Credit: Tim Gore
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