Invasive Species: Asking Questions Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Brian Coad © Canadian Museum of Nature An activity in the Invasive Species lesson plan nature.ca/education > Teacher Resources > Lessons Page 1 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Questions Are the Key The process of science is basically about asking questions and answering them. Good science starts by asking good questions. Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). Paul Hamilton © Canadian Museum of Nature Page 2 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Open Questions What makes a good question? Well, for one, open questions are generally better than closed questions. Open questions do not have one straightforward answer. Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). © Canadian Museum of Nature Page 3 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Open Questions Open questions require evaluation, analysis and synthesis of multiple sources of information. Typically, there are alternatives to consider and evidence to be weighed. There may not be any one “correct” answer, but you must justify your answer. Varnish clam (Nuttallia obscurata). André Martel © Canadian Museum of Nature Page 4 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Examples of Open Questions Which process is better and why? What is the difference between light and sound? How might thermal pollution affect the plankton in the area? Who should be advocating for environmental policy change? European frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae). Lynn Gillespie © Lynn Gillespie Page 5 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Closed Questions Closed questions are ones for which answers already exist, and the answers are presumed to be facts. Often, answers to closed questions help in answering an open question. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Ruben Boles © Canadian Museum of Nature Page 6 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Examples of Closed Questions Who discovered the light spectrum? What was the concentration level of CO2? Where are ring-tailed lemurs found? When will the eclipse take place? Does fertilizer runoff increase the growth rate of algae? Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). Ruben Boles © Canadian Museum of Nature Page 7 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Open or Closed? What is our provincial flower? Why might two people with the same illness react differently? Where is the perfect elephant habitat? Who should lobby the government for tighter environmental controls? Who was the creator of the Periodic Table? How could natural factors alleviate the zebra-mussel invasion? Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus). Ruben Boles © Canadian Museum of Nature Page 8 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education

Can you think of some good questions to ask about invasive species? Closed Questions Open Questions Page 9 Teacher Zone nature.ca/education