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About
Phenology and Journey North |
What
is phenology?
Phenology is the study of the seasonal
timing of life cycle events. You are studying phenology
when you record the date a certain plant flowers, a tree's
leaves emerge, an insect hatches, or a migratory bird appears
on its nesting grounds. The dates on which these happen
each year are affected by factors such as daylength, temperature,
and rainfall.
What
are these observations important?
By studying phenology, students can join scientists and
other citizens who look for clues about our changing climate
and its impact on living things. As
students observe the natural world closely and record data,
they begin to see patterns of seasonal change and to note
important interrelationships. |
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How
to Collect Phenology Observations |
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Once
each month, go outside as a class and record the changes
you see. Use the Phenology
Checklists below. Try to begin on the Fall
Equinox in September or as close as you can. (You can
also start in January.) Go outside one month later and see
how things have changed. Journey North will send a monthly
e-mail reminder. Check
the Phenology News page
for links to monthly reminders and activities.
Each Phenology Checklist begins with sunlight and progresses
up the food chain — from sunlight to plants to animals.
FALL:
Watch what happens as sunlight decreases and temperatures
drop in the fall. Plants die or go dormant, so food is less
available to animals. Some migrate, some hibernate, and
others rely on physical adaptations.
SPRING: Watch
how the food chain rebuilds in the spring as the season progresses.
Energy from the sun increases, temperatures rise, ice melts,
and plant growth begins. The animals that eat plants appear
first, followed by their predators — and so on up the
food chain. |
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Spring
Checklists |
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What
to Do with Your Data |
 Find
a partner classroom and compare your phenology
data!
>>
- Create
a
seasonal timeline or display. Encourage other classrooms
to help track various seasonal events, and provide a complete
picture of spring or fall's journey through your hometown
— and across the hemisphere. >>
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| Ask
Questions |
Before
looking at Phenology Checklists:
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What signs tell us that fall (or spring) is approaching?
(You may want to add these to the Journey North list,
or create your own.)
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What sounds, smells, colors, and feelings accompany
these changes?
Throughout
the season — and from year to year (as
you compare phenology checklists):
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| Other
Lesson Links: Exploring the Seasons |
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