The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Apache Wild Tea

Harvesting “Apache Tea”-Thelesperma

A 4th grade STEM Lesson

Sanjiv M. Thompson

6/1/2024

Notes for teachers

• Context:
• Lesson will also require a walk around harvest plants
• This lesson takes place in a classroom for one or more hours
• Group work
• An emphasis on how to harvest and prepare tea
• Monitor chemical reaction when boiling
• Reflection on the process it took

List of Materials:

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• Thelesperma plants (or a location where they grow)
• Gardening gloves
• Pruning shears or scissors
• Collection baskets or bags
• Clean water
• Portable stove or kettle
• Pots for boiling water
• Tea strainers
• Notebooks and pens
• Magnifying glasses (optional)
• Digital scales (optional)
• pH strips (optional)
• Ruler

Arizona ELA Standards

4.RL.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

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4.W.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

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4.SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly

Arizona Science Standards

These eight practices identified in A Framework for K-12 Science Education⁴ are critical components of scientific literacy, not instructional strategies:

· Ask questions and define problems

● develop and use models

● plan and carry out investigations

● analyze and interpret data

● use mathematics and computational thinking

● construct explanations and design solutions

● engage in argument from evidence

● obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

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Life Science

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L2: Organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they often depend on, or compete with, other organisms.

U1: Scientists explain phenomena using evidence obtained from observations and or scientific investigations. Evidence may lead to developing models and or theories to make sense of phenomena. As new evidence is discovered, models and theories can be revised.

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Math:

4.NF.B.4 a. Understand a fraction 𝑎/𝑎 𝑏/𝑏

a/a a multiple of a unit fraction 1

𝑏/𝑏. In general, 𝑎/𝑎

𝑏/𝑏= a x 1 𝑏/𝑏 .

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Objective(s):

At the end of the lesson, 80% of the 4th grade students will be able to:

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1. examine how organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they depend on and compete with other organisms to produce a supplement that can help sickness.
2. participate in harvesting wild tea and learn about it and its uses.
3. collaborate and communicate effectively with peers to complete the task.
4. have a hands on activity on boiling the harvested wild tea and lean about its preparation.

Agenda (60 minutes)

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Introduction to Wild Tea Harvesting

Harvesting and Picking Wild Tea

Planting two types of Bonsai Trees

Monitor and caring of Bonsai Trees

Students will also write step by step process of how they harvest the “wild tea”

Conclusion and Reflection

Information:

• Thelesperma is a plant that can be found in parts of United States
• In Apache: pronounced: izeets'ósé
• Some Native American Tribes that use “Wild tea” are the Navajos, Hopi and Apache
• It is used for colds, flu and diarrhea

Description

• Thelesperma is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family (Asteraceae).

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• These plants are native to North America and are commonly found in the southwestern United States, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

Characteristics of Thelesperma

Appearance:

• Stems: The plants typically have slender, wiry stems.
• Leaves: Leaves are often narrow and thread-like (hence the name Greenthread), giving the plant a delicate appearance.
• Flowers: Thelesperma plants produce small, yellow, daisy-like flowers. The flowers usually have a central disk surrounded by rays.

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Characteristics of Thelesperma

Habitat:

• Thelesperma thrives in open, sunny locations with well-drained soils. They are commonly found in grasslands, prairies, and desert environments.

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Uses of Thelesperma

• Thelesperma has been used traditionally by Native American tribes, such as the Navajo and Hopi, to make herbal tea. The tea is prepared by steeping the dried stems and leaves in boiling water. This tea is known for its mild, pleasant flavor and is often consumed for its purported health benefits.

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• The tea made from Thelesperma is believed to have several medicinal properties. It has been used to treat various ailments such as stomach issues, inflammation, and kidney problems. The tea is also considered to have calming and soothing effects.

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1st Step: Harvesting Thelesperma

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• First, travel to a site where Thelesperma grows (if on a field trip) or use provided plants.
• Demonstrate how to identify Thelesperma and the correct way to harvest it sustainably.
• When picking do not pull out from the root
• Break off a few inches from the root (this allows regrowth to happen for next years crop)
• Students work in pairs to harvest Thelesperma, ensuring they collect responsibly.
• Each student records their observations and the quantity of Thelesperma harvested.

2nd Step: Tea Making Process

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• After picking a bundle or how ever much you are satisfied with the amount you pick
• Clean the harvested Thelesperma.
• Weigh the harvested amount using digital scales (optional).
• Discuss the importance of measurement and proportions in scientific processes.

3rd Step: Tea Bags

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• Bundling the tea or making tea bags.
• Incorporating measuring: measure about 2 inches using a ruler
• Stack them in little bundles of about 20 and tie with your string (you can keep flowers on your preference)
• Or you can stuff the pre-bought tea bags.

4th Step: Boiling the Tea

Laboratory Activity

• Boil water using a portable stove or kettle.
• Add the harvested Thelesperma to the boiling water.
• You may add sugar or honey, depending on your preference.
• Students observe the boiling process, noting any changes in color, aroma, and other properties.

5th Step: Tea Chemistry

Experiment

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• Use pH strips to measure the acidity of the tea.
• Discuss the role of pH in tea flavor and health benefits.
• Optional: Compare the taste and pH of Thelesperma tea to other types of tea.

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6th Step: Discussion and Tasting

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• Allow students to taste the tea they prepared.
• Reflect on the entire process, discussing what they learned about plant biology, sustainable harvesting, and the chemistry of tea making.
• Encourage students to think about other plants that could be used for similar activities.

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How do we assess our work?

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• We field test the taste of our tea?
• We will monitor the boiling water and the tea bundle
• We explain why we think it makes tea

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We evaluate our final iteration by tasting our tea and seeing if it turns a bright red.

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Assessment

In our science notebooks :

• Track the process of the steps we took ?
• Did our tea turn out as expected?
• Did it turn the bright red color?
• If it didn’t why so we think it didn’t?
• What could we have done differently?
• Write down any changes you would make to the process in the future.

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ELA Assessment

Using chronological order:

Step by step list the steps you took to harvest and drink your tea

Differentiation

• If needed students will need differentiation
• Step by step instructions may be provided
• Images may be helpful to show how to build the bridge.
• Use a checklist to help students track each step they complete.

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

• If you finish early you may make a comic strip of your steps

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• Write about the process on how you will use your tea?