Introduction
Seonaid Davis's secondary school students at Havergal College in Ontario, Canada have created a wide variety of fun and educational treehouses on organisms such as watermelon snow, the black mamba, clownfish, ostriches and more! Havergal students are among the first to create treehouses on the Tree of Life and we applaud their efforts. This portfolio contains stories that incorporate information about organisms in a way that is widely accessible to learners, and many stories also include comprehension questions. Games and arts and crafts treehouses provide information and activities. Treehouse investigations are presented in a clear and engaging manner.
Enjoy browsing the treehouses in this portfolio by clicking on the links or images below. The treehouses are organized by type below and in the right sidebar menu.
Note that:
- Many of the students created their own media, by drawing, creating models and taking photographs.
- Many of these treehouses were developed as learning materials for students in 5th to 8th grade.
Portfolio Pages
Investigations
- Polytrichum commune
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- Moss. What comes to mind when you hear “moss”? Probably an image of that useless green fuzz you see on rocks when you’re hiking or in your neighbor’s garden, but there is more to moss then meets the eye. By looking over this website you will find the answers to questions you never even thought to ask about an organism as seemingly boring as moss. Next time you come across that bit of green fuzz you will not leave unimpressed.
- Sponge (Porifera)
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© sponge1
- Sponges are the simplest of multi-cellular animals.
Stories
- Bertha the Beluga Whale
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© 2005 beluga1
- Once upon a time in a frigid land of ice and snow, there lived a pleasant beluga (beluga whales, Delphinapterus Leucas) named Bertha.
- Clownfish Story
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© 2005 fish1
- Once upon a time, in the depths of the ocean, there were hundreds of tiny fish eggs lying peacefully inside the protection of a sea anemone with a loving father who looked after them. An impatient little clownfish named Mone was the first larvae to hatch among his brothers and sisters...
- La Mamba Noire (in English)
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© 2005
- Extra Extra! Read all about it. Read about the black mamba olypmics, the dwindling rodent stock in the northern quadrant of Somalia, and browse the real estate classifieds for news of dens and lairs for sale.
- Oscar the Ostrich
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© Ostrich1
- In this story about two kids on an adventure with an ostrich in Africa, bolded lines are actual facts about ostriches.
- Interview with an Octopus
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© 20/10/2005 octopus2
- Presenting and interview with an octopus, the master of disguise. Learn about the Common Octopus: Its Appearance, Habitat, Importance to Ecosystem, Interactions, Adaptations, Reproduction, Life Cycle and More!
- Squishy the Jellyfish
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- Once upon a time, there was a Moon Jellyfish named Squishy. Squishy lived with his mom and dad in the Gulf of Mexico.
Treehouse Fun and Games
- The "Red" Green Algae
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© algae2
- Although known for its bright pink-red colour, watermelon snow, scientifically known as Chlamydomonas nivalis, is actually a species of green algae. While most forms of green algae thrive in fresh water habitats, C. nivalis can be found within the snowfields of mountains and on top of glaciers; this is surprising as other species of green algae would not be able to survive in such a harsh, cold environment.
- Aurelia Aurita, Moon Jelly
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© jellyfish1
- Moon jelly, or Aurelia aurita, are probably the most common and widely recognized type of jellyfish. This board game through trivia questions, teaches about the Moon Jelly - general information, habitat, body system, and life cycle.
Art and Culture
- Black Widow Spider
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© spider2
- This exercise is meant to serve as a tool to help students learn about the Black Widow Spider. It provides information so students will have a basic understanding about where the Black Widow lives, what it eats, and how it interacts with other spiders. This craft is not only educational but fun to make as well!