Striving for good data JoAnn Mossman Grade 7 Life Science Overlook Middle School, Ashburnham, MA

Routine! Start going outside as soon as you learn their names! Student materials: clipboards/pencils/notebooks/stereoscopes Your bag: class lists/data sheets/extra pencils and rulers/ bandaids/epipens/phone/whistle/ flagging/ sharpie Expectations for lining up Expectations for walking in and out of the building Observations/sketches/gathering/skills of a scientist What to do if they are waiting for you Don’t worry about footwear Try to go out the same day each week Outdoor Classroom Rubric (everything counts!)

Outdoor Classroom Rubric Skill 4 3 2 1 Following Directions I followed all of the directions for the observation or activity. I followed most of the directions. I needed a reminder from Mrs. M. about directions. I needed many reminders from Mrs. M. about directions. Safety I followed all safety instructions. I followed most safety instructions. I needed a reminder from Mrs. M. to stay safe. I needed many reminders from Mrs. M. about the safety behaviors. Activity I worked very hard on the observation or activity. I did pretty well on the observation or activity. I need to work harder on the observation or activity. I had a lot of difficulty on the observation or activity because I just wasn’t trying. Listening I stopped and listened every time it was signaled. I stopped and listened most times it was signaled. Mrs. M. had to remind me to stop and listen when it was time. I needed many reminders to stop and listen.

Practice skills inside first Tape leaves to paper to measure and estimate % changed Use the real data sheets to fill in Rotate groups then compare answers Discuss why the data did or did not correspond Practice on branches indoors Fill in the real data sheets Rotate groups and compare answers

Now practice skills outside: Tree Observation Routine FIRST DAY: Meet Their Trees Always go over any instructions inside first Have a starting and ending meeting area Be sure to visit every group They are working on sketches, observations and predictions Gather in ending meeting area to share

Now practice skills outside: Tree Observation Routine SECOND DAY: First Official Observation Have both partners do the first obs. on their own data sheet so they both get practice Visit every group 2-3 times Always do weather and site notes on bottom of data sheet. Gather in ending meeting area for the proofread Proofread: Stand in a circle next to your partner (when they are working on just one data sheet after the first day, both students are proofreading that one sheet) Go through the whole data sheet line by line Encourage them to make corrections/additions Have a bin inside for completed data sheets

Think about verification Can you get 2 groups observing the same branch? (Elementary=very hard if you only have one class. How can you verify in a non- threatening way?) More than one class observing: assign at least 2 groups per study branch for verification Put data sheets in order and go through the data sheets within a day or two while it is fresh in your memory If you see a blatant error you can send a group back out or you can look yourself Keep a master data sheet to make data input easier, but keep all of their individual sheets

What do I do now? When a group’s tree determines they are done: Bring out a thermometer: laser thermometer, soil thermometer, gather data to graph later Be helpers Bring out hand lenses or stereoscopes Photographers Site clean-up (trash, gardens) Sketch books

Other Ideas: Initial Spring Observation dates April 12, 2010 April 15, 2011 March 22, 2012 April 11, 2013 April 18, 2014 April 30, 2015 April 29, 2016 Why?

Other Ideas: Final Fall observation dates ** looks like normal Obs. Dates but When you look at the Graph they were short Growing seasons Nov. 11, 2009 Nov. 9, 2010 Nov. 21, 2011 ** Nov. 2, 2012 Nov. 15, 2013 Nov. 7, 2014 ** Nov. 13, 2015 Nov. 10, 2016 Why?

Oct. 29, 2011: Snowstorm October 23, 2014 Nor’Easter

Final Fall observation dates Nov. 11, 2009 Nov. 9, 2010 Nov. 21, 2011 Nov. 2, 2012 ** Nov. 15, 2013 Nov. 7, 2014 Nov. 13, 2015 Nov. 10, 2016 ** looks like an early Ending date but When you look at the Graph it was a long Growing season Why?

2012 First spring observation was March 22, 3-4 full weeks earlier than our typical spring observations So the Nov. 2 ending date didn’t have as big of an impact on the growing season

School Elevation (m) Other ideas Austin Prep.Reading 26 Bagnell Elem. Groveland 31 Tewksbury HS 45 Overlook Ashburnham 290 Gardner High 354

Other ideas

Other ideas