What resource materials are available to assist my preparation?

The resource materials I will be using to assist in preparation for this unit will consist of text books, online resources, plant ID books, maps, science journals and picture books. As a class we will review a map of California and the varying regions and plant communities. These plant communities are indicative of the land which surrounds them so this will be a great point to assist students in deciphering where plant communities can be found! We will also be discussing the differences in plants and what makes certain plants more adaptable in the desert and not the forest. This will be discovered through plant id books as well as online resources. The following are some links which will assist in my preparation and can also be great resources for the students.

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities

http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/plantcommunities.html

http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/parts.html

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case1/c1facts2a.html

http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/

http://fullertonarboretum.org/home_nav_links.php