Isaac Newton WebQuest

Introduction The Task The Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion

Introduction

Princeton University has convinced renowned scientist and mathematician Isaac Newton to teach and research at their educational institution. He has to relocate to Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has carried on his one-day journey a sapling from an apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor, which is the species Flower of Kent, to his new home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He must plant this sapling soon for it to flourish and produce the pear-shaping cooking apples in the United States.

His cottage’s landscape consists of a 50 foot wide by 30 foot deep flat area covered with blue grass. He has hired your landscape architecture firm to design an inspirational perennial garden around his apple tree. His would like his garden to utilize his complimentary color theory as well as provide a space for his new invention, the telescope. Isaac Newton is one of the greatest scientific and mathematical minds of this century, however he lacks a green thumb. His garden must be easy to maintain and care for in this Northeast climate he lives in now. His new teaching position doesn’t pay much so his budget is limited to $3000.

Fall is the optimal time to plant and is just 6 weeks from now. You will present Isaac Newton a 3d drawing of his landscape with plant specifications including maintenance and care instructions, hard scape solutions and cost estimates.

Nature has always inspired Isaac. His hypothesis of universal gravitation was prompted by the fall of an apple. Isaac needs you to design a garden that will inspire his future discoveries. Good luck!

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The Task

Your firm will draw a 3d garden plan for Isaac Newton. This plan will accommodate his personal preferences; landscape needs, and be appropriate to his home style and the Northeast region climate. At the end of the quest you will be able to:

Design and draw a 3d garden landscape with pleasing use of scale, color and texture, incorporating a focal point and hard space area.
Identify the climate zone on the Northeast region of Pennsylvania and its implications to perennial plant growth.
Identify and select perennial plants for a garden in the Northeast region zone.
Provide instructions for the care and maintenance of the perennial plants.
Identify and select a hard scape material for the landscape.
Provide an estimate of costs of the landscape project.

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The Process

The class will be divided into groups of six to research the below categories:

Group 1 — Isaac Newton — personality, color theory, telescope

Group 2 — climate zones — identify Northeast zone and it effects on plants

Group 3 — garden design — use of color, texture, scale, garden design templates

Group 4 — hard scape solutions — what’s available

Group 5 — perennial plant— varieties available, growth habits, care and maintain needs

Group 6 — estimating costs — material costs, labor costs, mark-up margins , sales tax

All groups will meet after 2 weeks to collaborate and make the final selection on the garden layout, perennial plants, and hardspace material.
All members will collaborate and create a Microsoft word document with instructions explaining the care and maintenance of the selected perennial plants.
All members will collaborate and create a CAD 3d color drawing of the client’s garden design.
All members will collaborate and create an Excel spreadsheet document with total costs estimate of the landscape project.

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Resources

Issac Newton

http://www.newton.org.uk/

Web site — virtual museum of Sir Isaac Newton and the history of science

http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/color3.html

Web site — Isaac Newton colors into a color circle and complementary colors.

Climate Zones

http://www.smartgardening.com/Gardening_Climate_Zones.htm

Web site —climate impacts on plants.

http://www.mooarhillfarm.com/Climate_Zones/climate_zones.html

Online Map— climate zone map

Garden Design

http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,DEID_project_27629,FF.html

Web site — color in the garden

Hard Space Material

http://www.yellowpages.com.au/

Yellow Pages —Find a local stone quarry

Perennial Plants

http://gardening.sierrahome.com/encyc/

Web site — Search a plant encyclopedia

http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,GALA_project_25741,FF.html

Web site — Pastel Perennials

http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,GALA_project_26244,FF.html

Web site — Classical Grasses

Care and Maintenance of Perennial Plants

http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,FOLI_project_14532,FF.html

Website — Dividing Perennials

Estimating Costs

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/087629588X/b4ubuildcom/002-5991139-7504863

Online Book Store— Site Work & Landscape Cost Data 2001 by Barbara Balboni. A collection of hundreds of up-to-date cost facts for site work and landscape costs.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0876295340/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/002-5991139-7504863

Online Book Store — Landscape Estimating Methods by Sylvia Hollman Fee

Group Dynamics

http://www.personalitytype.com/quiz.html

Online Test — What's Your Personality Type? Take Our Quiz and Find Out!

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Evaluation

CAD Landscape Drawing (50%)

	Excellent (3 pt)	Fair (2 pt)	Poor (1 pt)
CAD Drawing	detailed illustrations	clear illustrations	unclear illustrations
Size &Scale of plants	5 or more varieties of plant scales	3 varieties of plant scales	no variety of plant scales
Color	complimentary color theory used throughout design	complimentary color theory use in parts of design	no color theory used in design
Texture	5 or more varieties of plant textures	3 varieties of plant textures	no variety of plant textures
Focal Point	clear defined focal point	focal point present	no focal point
Hard scape	choice of hard scape enhances and harmonizes with garden design	Hard scape utilized in design	choice of hard scape distracts from garden design
Client Needs (area for telescope, easy care of plant, within budget)	3 of the client’s needs solved	2 of the client’s need solved	solved 1 client need
Notes:
Microsoft Care and Maintenance Instruction Sheet (25%)
Document	clearly written with detailed instructions	clearly written with some detailed instructions	unclearly written and lacks details
climate zone and its effects	Zone identified correctly and implications on plant growth clearly defined	Zone identified correctly but the implications on plant growth not clearly defined
Notes:
Excel Estimate of Cost Spreadsheet (25%) (materials costs, labor costs, markup costs, and sales tax identified)
Document	organized breakdown of costs with correct calculations	costs calculations accurate	unorganized breakdown of costs and incorrect calculations
Notes:

Self Evaluation

How successful were you as a team member? Did you share your individual knowledge, skills, effort and contributions with other team members? Evaluate yourself with the self evaluation rubric.

Self Evaluation Collaboration Rubric

	Excellent (3 pt)	Fair (2 pt)	Poor (1 pt)
Research & Gather Information	Collects a great deal of information, all relates to the topic.	Collects some basic information, most relates to the topic.	Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.
Share Information	Relays a great deal of information, all relates to the topic.	Relays some basic information, most relates to the topic.	Does not relay any information to teammates.
Be Punctual	Hands in all assignments on time.	Hands in most assignments on time.	Does not hand in any assignments.
Notes: Pdf file self evaluation rubric

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Conclusion

Congratulations! Your landscape design is a unique expression of your creativity and an inspiration for your client — Isaac Newton. Your garden design will grow and inspire for generations to come.

Climate Zones

Garden Design

Hard Space Material

Perennial Plants

Care and Maintenance of Perennial Plants

Estimating Costs

Group Dynamics

Microsoft Care and Maintenance Instruction Sheet (25%)