Download Taro and Native Birds

Content Presentation and Learner Participation Worksheet
SKILL: Identify the Taro plant, scientific name Colocasia esculenta (or antiquorum). It is #1
from the ARACEAE family.
OBJECTIVE: Given the characteristics of taro plants, and pictures of various plants, the
learner will identify the taro plant.
CONTENT PRESENTATION
Information Presentation: Taro or Colocasia esculenta (or antiquorum) comes from the
ARACEAE family group. It can be grown in dry land and wet land. Taro can be used as an
ornamental plant but it is best known for the use of its root to produce food. Taro has large
leaves, shaped like rounded arrowheads, supported by thick stalks. They are green in color, and
resemble elephant ears or heart-shaped leaves. Taro flowers are small, white or yellow, with
rounded petals. The root is shaped like an upside-down triangle with the base at the top.
Examples:
Taro Colocasia esculenta has large leaves, shaped like rounded arrowheads, supported by thick
stalks. They are green in color, resembling elephant ears or hearts. There are veins that run
through the leaves, but the surface of the leaves is flat. It’s from the Araceae family.
Non-Examples:
This is the Anthirium Plant, Anthurium andreanum has 600 species in the
arum family (Araceae). They have heart-shaped blossoms with ribbed-like veins running
through them. Some blossoms are green. The leaves are green and shaped like a heart.
The Elephant Ear Plant or Colocasia Esculentum has a large, heartshaped leaf. Elephant ear plants can grow 8' tall in the tropics; in the North, a height of 2'-3' is
more common (depending on growing conditions).
Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous or bulbous perennials from the
Family Araceae. There are about 70 species of Alocasia occurring in tropical, humid climates of
Southeast Asia and Brazil. The large green elephant ear leaves grow to a length of 20 to 90 cm
on long petioles. This corm is not readily edible.
Which statement best describes the Colocasia esculenta or Taro plant
Pretest &
group? The Taro plant group has all of the following characteristics:
Embedded:
A. Leaves shaped like elephant ears, hearts, or rounded arrow heads
with a flat surface.
B. Leaves shaped like elephant ears, hearts, or rounded arrow heads
with a ribbed surface. It grows up to 8 feet tall.
C. Leaves are green and shaped like a heart with a ribbed surface.
D. Leaves are green of 20 to 90 cm from South east Asia to Brazil.
A. CORRECT. This describes the Taro Plant.
Feedback
B. Incorrect. This describes the Elephant Ear Plant.
C. Incorrect. This describes the Hawaiian Anthirium Plant.
D. Incorrect. This is the Alocasia from Brazil or Southeast Asia.
Posttest
The Taro plant group has the following characteristics:
A. Leaves shaped like elephant ears, hearts, or rounded arrow heads
with a flat surface.
B. Leaves shaped like elephant ears, hearts, or rounded arrow heads
with a ribbed surface. It grows up to 8 feet tall.
C. Leaves are green and shaped like a heart with a ribbed surface.
D. Leaves are green of 20 to 90 cm from South east Asia to Brazil
SKILL: Identify the Common Moorhen, whose Hawaiian name is ‘Alae ‘Ula
#2
OBJECTIVE: Given the characteristics of the Common Moorhen, and pictures of various
other ducks, the learner will identify the Common Moorhen.
CONTENT PRESENTATION
Information Presentation: The ‘Alae ‘Ula, a subspecies of the Common Moorhen, stands 13
inches tall. It is a slate-gray color, darker on the head and neck than elsewhere. It has white
feathers on the flanks and under its tail. The frontal shield and bill, except for the yellow tip, are
red. The legs and feet are yellowish-green. ‘Ula means red named for its red bill.
Examples:
This is a Common Moorhen or ‘Alae ‘Ula. ‘Ula means red named for its red
bill.
Non-Examples:
This is the Hawaiian Coot or ‘Alae Ke’o. Ke’o means white named for its
white bill.
This is the Mallard Duck. The male has green plumage on the head and
neck and the female’s plumage is brown.
This is a Motley Duck. The male has black head with black and white
spots.
Pretest &
Embedded:
Which characteristic best describes the ‘Alae ‘Ula, a subspecies of the
Common Moorhen?
A. ‘Ula means red named for its red bill.
B. Ke’o means white named for its white bill.
C. The male has green plumage on the head and neck and the
female’s plumage is brown.
D. The male has black head with black and white spots.
Feedback
A. CORRECT. This best describes the’Alae ‘Ula.
B. Incorrect. This best describes the ‘Alae Ke’o.
C. Incorrect. This best describes the Mallard.
D. Incorrect. This best describes the Motley.
The ‘Alae ‘Ula has the following characteristics:
A. Ula means red named for its red bill.
B. Ke’o means white named for its white bill
C. The male has green plumage on the head and neck and the female’s
plumage is brown.
D. The male has black head with black and white spots.
Posttest