David Attenborough Not Included
Project Goal + Timeline
In this project, we will be reviewing your knowledge of seed plants and seed plant diversity by making a nature documentary about the seed plants in your community. This project should be completed by yourself or within a group over a week.
Directions
Part 1: Seed Plant Documentary
Make a nature documentary about the seed plants in your community. You are this film's director, producer, narrator, and photographer. Choose your video style. Also, choose how you present all visual elements. You can use photographs, video, or a combination of both.
For example, you could take a walking tour through a vegetated area as you narrate what you see. Alternatively, you could create your documentary in a video program from only photos, and add an audio overlay. Your video must be narrated in your own words, either speaking directly or using a text-to-speech program.
Structure your video with an introduction, a middle, and a conclusion. In other words, avoid making a video that simply answers the required documentary components. These components must be presented in a thoughtful, documentary-style product.
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Begin your video with a documentary-style introduction that invites the viewer to watch your documentary. Your introduction should summarize the purpose of the documentary and give the viewer a taste of what's to come. It may be helpful to watch the first minute or so of your favorite documentaries to get some ideas.
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Fill up the middle of the documentary with these components:
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Obtain footage (video or photos) of seed plants in your community that represent both gymnosperms and angiosperms.
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Explain when seed plants first appeared and when gymnosperms became the dominant plant group.
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Using your footage, explain the major innovations of seed plants.
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Using your footage, explain the purpose of pollen grains and how they differ from seeds.
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For gymnosperms, list the four groups and indicate which group the plants in your footage represent.
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For gymnosperms, explain the function of the cone.
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For angiosperms, compare and contrast the two main groups of flowering plants.
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For angiosperms, detail the life cycle of a typical angiosperm.
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Conclude your video with a documentary-style conclusion. Restate the purpose and finish with a thoughtful video sign-off.
Here are the technical requirements for your documentary:
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The video must have a title.
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The video duration should be between 7 and 10 minutes, including the introduction and the conclusion.
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The video must be narrated in your own words.
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All images in this project must be your own. You may not use stock video or images.
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Your film's photos and/or video should be relevant to the content.
Part 2: Review Questions
Finish this project by writing answers to the following questions about flowers.
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Describe the two main types of flowering plants.
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List five main parts of a flower and explain the role of each.
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Describe one specific example of a pollination method.
Project Materials
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Video recording device
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Question set about flowers
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Pen/pencil
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Optional: Video editing program