Inquiry: Field Investigations Bridging the natural curiosity of the learner with the disciplinary pursuits of science

Agenda 1) Systems Understanding 2) Types of Investigation Questions 3) Comparative Investigation 4) Planning Investigations 5) Sharing Session and Looking Forward 6) Evaluations

Science Notebooks

Content background (systems understanding) is crucial to asking good questions

What is a system?

What is a System?

An assemblage of inter-related parts or conditions through which matter, energy and information flow. (WA EALRs) An organized group of related objects or components that form a whole. (NRC) A collection of things and processes that interact to perform some function. The scientific idea of a system implies detailed attention to inputs and outputs and interactions among system components. (AAAS) (Field Investigation Guide, pg 1 and pg 77.)

Go outside and observe the local system: Draw and label parts of the system. Local System

What were the parts of the local system? Local System

Tree (conifer) Bush Sidewalk Bare Ground Car Building Air Decaying leaves Tree (deciduous) Urban Ecosystem

Types of Questions Investigation Questions Essential Questions Systems Questions Look in a book- Questions Life- Pondering Questions Why Questions

We want to ask students systems question: Function of parts Energy forms and transfers Roles of parts in ecosystem Interconnections in ecosystem Lifecycles Adaptations Inputs and outputs Subsystems Systems Questions

Big picture questions Cannot be answered with one investigation Connect various investigations Essential Questions

Types of Questions Investigation Questions Essential Questions Systems Questions Look in a book- Questions Life- Pondering Questions Why Questions

Types of Questions Investigation Questions Essential Questions Systems Questions Look in a book- Questions Life- Pondering Questions Why Questions

Three Types: Investigation Questions Descriptive Questions Descriptive Questions Comparative Questions Comparative Questions Correlative Questions Correlative Questions Field Investigation Guide, page 11.

How many ___ are there in a given area? How many ___ are there in a given area? How frequently does ___ happen in a given period? How frequently does ___ happen in a given period? What is the (temp., speed, height, mass density, force, pH, etc.) of ___? What is the (temp., speed, height, mass density, force, pH, etc.) of ___? When does ___ happen during the year? (flowering, fruit, babies born, etc) When does ___ happen during the year? (flowering, fruit, babies born, etc) Where does ___ occur over time? (What is an animals range?) Where does ___ occur over time? (What is an animals range?) Descriptive Questions

Is there a difference in ____ between group (or condition) A and group B? Is there a difference in ____ between group (or condition) A and group B? Is there a difference in ___ between or among different locations? Is there a difference in ___ between or among different locations? Is there a difference in ___ at different times (seasons)? Is there a difference in ___ at different times (seasons)? Comparative Questions

What is the relationship between variable #1 and variable #2? What is the relationship between variable #1 and variable #2? Does ___ go up when ___ goes down? Does ___ go up when ___ goes down? How does ___ change as ___ changes? How does ___ change as ___ changes? Correlation Questions

Sort Questions as to whether Descriptive, Comparative, or Correlative Investigation Questions DescriptiveComparative Correlative

State Standards:

Todays Investigation Focus: Temperature

Familiar measurement. Can do on the school campus. Creates a common reference point. We want to limit our investigation to one measurement/environmental factor. Temperature Investigation

Our essential question for this investigation is: Temperature Investigation Temperature Investigation

Our essential question for this investigation is: How does temperature vary in different microclimates? Temperature Investigation Temperature Investigation

Comparative Investigation Question Which location on our school campus: in the grass, under the bushes, or on the sidewalk has the highest surface temperature °__(C or F)?

What is the manipulated (independent, changed) variable? What is the manipulated (independent, changed) variable? What will we measure? (measured, responding, dependent variable) What will we measure? (measured, responding, dependent variable) Temperature Investigation

What is the manipulated (independent, changed) variable? Underline the manipulated variable in the question. What is the manipulated (independent, changed) variable? Underline the manipulated variable in the question. What will we measure? (measured, responding, dependent variable) What will we measure? (measured, responding, dependent variable) Temperature Investigation

What is the manipulated (independent, changed) variable? Underline the manipulated variable in the question. What is the manipulated (independent, changed) variable? Underline the manipulated variable in the question. What will we measure? (measured, responding, dependent variable) What will we measure? (measured, responding, dependent variable) Double underline what we will measure in the question. Temperature Investigation

What should we keep the same (controlled variables) in this investigation? How should we make sure our samples are random and representative of the area? (validity measures) Random Sampling Example in the Field Investigation Guide, pg. 26 Constant Variables

Write an hypothesis with reason Address one condition of the manipulated (changed) variable. What do you predict you will observe or measure with this condition? Give a reason. HypothesisPrediction

Thermometers Thermometers Stopwatch Stopwatch Rulers Rulers Paper Paper 3 locations: on top of the grass, under a bush or on the sidewalk. 3 locations: on top of the grass, under a bush or on the sidewalk. List Materials

DATE DATE TIME TIME PLACE PLACE

Data table: Clear title that describes what is to observed/measured Clear title that describes what is to observed/measured Manipulated (changed) variable: on the left side Manipulated (changed) variable: on the left side Measured variable: Space for observations/measurements clearly labeled and with proper units when applicable across the top Measured variable: Space for observations/measurements clearly labeled and with proper units when applicable across the top Multiple trials clearly labeled and space for averages or calculations if applicable across the top Multiple trials clearly labeled and space for averages or calculations if applicable across the top Temperature Investigation

Teams of 2 (or 3). Each team will go to all 3 locations. At each location take 3 temperature measurements (repeated trials). Remember to write a description of the study site and record date, time, and place! Temperature Investigation

Calculate your averages. Write each average on a different sticky note (fill up the space). Yellow = Grass Pink = Bushes Blue = Sidewalk Place your sticky notes on the number line: yellow above, pink on the line, blue below. Temperature Investigation

What was the highest temperature anyone recorded? What was the lowest temperature? Initially does it appear your prediction was correct? Anything you would want to do differently next time? Temperature Investigation

Write up the procedure for our investigation. (what we just did) Look at your Field Investigation Format flap, as needed. And…

Remember when writing your investigation to include: The manipulated (independent or changed) variable The manipulated (independent or changed) variable The responding (dependent or measured) variable The responding (dependent or measured) variable The controlled variables The controlled variables Temperature Investigation Temperature Investigation

Remember when writing your investigation to include: The manipulated (independent or changed) variable The manipulated (independent or changed) variable The responding (dependent or measured) variable The responding (dependent or measured) variable The controlled variables The controlled variables Temperature Investigation Temperature Investigation Pg 27

1. Record date time and place. 2. Describe study site. 3. Go to the first location on the grass. 4. Place the thermometer # in. above the ground. 5. Shade thermometer with sheet of paper at # in. above the thermometer. 6. Wait # minutes and record the temperature. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 two more times at this location. 8. Go through steps 4-7 for the other 2 locations on in the bushes and on the sidewalk. Investigation Procedure pgs. 28 & 82

1. Record date time and place. 2. Describe study site. 3. Go to the first location on the grass. 4. Place the thermometer # in. above the ground. 5. Shade thermometer with sheet of paper at # in. above the thermometer. 6. Wait # minutes and record the temperature. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 two more times at this location. 8. Go through steps 4-7 for the other 2 locations on in the bushes and on the sidewalk. Investigation Procedure pgs. 28 & 82

1. Record date time and place. 2. Describe study site. 3. Go to the first location on the grass. 4. Place the thermometer # in. above the ground. 5. Shade thermometer with sheet of paper at # in. above the thermometer. 6. Wait # minutes and record the temperature. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 two more times at this location. 8. Go through steps 4-7 for the other 2 locations on in the bushes and on the sidewalk. Investigation Procedure pgs. 28 & 82

1. Record date time and place. 2. Describe study site. 3. Go to the first location on the grass. 4. Place the thermometer # in. above the ground. 5. Shade thermometer with sheet of paper at # in. above the thermometer. 6. Wait # minutes and record the temperature. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 two more times at this location. 8. Go through steps 4-7 for the other 2 locations on in the bushes and on the sidewalk. Investigation Procedure pgs. 28 & 82

1. Record date time and place. 2. Describe study site. 3. Go to the first location on the grass. 4. Place the thermometer # in. above the ground. 5. Shade thermometer with sheet of paper at # in. above the thermometer. 6. Wait # minutes and record the temperature. 7. Repeat steps 4-6 two more times at this location. 8. Go through steps 4-7 for the other 2 locations on in the bushes and on the sidewalk. Investigation Procedure pgs. 28 & 82

Analyzing (and Displaying) Data Loca tion Surface Temperature °F Trial 1 Trial 2Trial 3 Trial 4 Ave °F Under a bush On the Black top On the open Grass °F 63 °F 50 °F x x x Graphs Maps Charts Dearborn Park Elementary, March 18, :30 pm Average Temperature °F on top of the Ground at 3 Locations

Location vs. Surface Temperature °F Location Surface Temperature °F Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Group 9 Group 10 Avg Surface Temp °_ In the Grass Under the Bushes On the Sidewalk Calculate the average temperatures for the class: Analyzing (and Displaying) Data August 22, 2012; Time… Washington-Hoyt Elementary School, Tacoma, Washington Weather …

Graphing in Excel Analyzing (and Displaying) Data

Write a conclusion for our temperature data. Betsy-Fulwiler sheet Writing Conclusions Writing Conclusions

1.Limits conclusion to place, date, and time of investigation 2.A conclusive statement clearly answers the investigation question Or answers the prediction 3.Lowest supporting data 4.Highest supporting data or trend data 5.Explanatory Language FI-Scoring Your Conclusion Score your conclusion using rubric on Page 84

Tumwater Data December 7, :00am Tumwater District Office, Tumwater, Washington Cloudy, cold morning Location vs. Temperature °F on top of the Ground LocationTemperature °F at Ground Level Trial 1Trial 2Trail 3Trial 4Average °F Under a bush On the Black top On the open Grass

Conclusion At Tumwater District Office Campus on December 7, 2005 at 11:00am there was no difference in surface temperature for the 3 locations-under a bush, on the black top, and on the open grass. All 3 locations had an average surface temperature of 45°F.

Dearborn Park Data March 18, 2005, 2:30 pm Dearborn Park Elementary, Seattle, Washington Sunny afternoon Location vs. Surface Temperature °C Location Surface Temperature °C Trial 1Trial 2Trial 3Trial 4Average °C On the open Grass Under a bush On the Black top Page 31

Conclusion At Dearborn Park Elementary on March 18, 2005 on the black top had the highest surface temperature. On the black top had the highest average surface temperature of 17 °C. On the open grass had the lowest average surface temperature of 10 °C. Our prediction that the black top would have the highest temperature was correct. Page 32

Discuss factors that may have influenced data. Discuss improvements to the procedure to control some of those factors. Explain any inconsistent data. Explain how this information might be important in the real world. Explain how this information should inform actions or decisions. Cite further questions for investigation. Discussion

How does the temperature investigation help me understand the ecosystem? What are other abiotic factors we could measure on this site? Microclimates Discussion

Choose one descriptive and comparative investigation to do with classroom: 1) 1)Determine and write down a descriptive question. 2) 2)Determine and write down a comparative question. 3) 3)Create a data table for a question you will investigate with your classroom. Planning a New Investigation

Sharing out Planning a New Investigation

Wrap-Up and Looking Forward

Erica Baker