"Canopy Guy" Dr. Eric Olson, an ecology professor at Brandeis, gave our third graders a "tour" of the New England and Costa Rica treetops. Students learned how trees make a living from soil, air and light; how trees consist of both below ground and above ground parts; how different trees use various adaptations to spread their seeds; and about the different types of animals that live in and around trees. To show students how he studies life in the treetops, Dr. Olson concluded with a spectacular schoolyard demonstration of a tree climb!
During the classroom workshops, he discussed the life cycles of spores, wasps, and caterpillars using real life specimens. After the discussions, the students divided into small groups to examine the specimens and make labeled scientific drawings. Dr. Olson visited each group and discussed their work and answered their many questions.
Dr. Olson is a fun and engaging presenter and the students really enjoyed learning about ecology from him!
Dr. Olson is a fun and engaging presenter and the students really enjoyed learning about ecology from him!
