Butterfly Experiment: Exploring the Scientific Method

Question: Is color a factor in attracting the Cabbage Whites to a food source?

Is this a good question? Why or why not? Remember a good scientific question needs two variables. What are they? Manipulative (item that is tested) Responding (what we are measuring)

Question: Is color a factor in attracting Cabbage Whites to a food source? ***underline the manipulative variable and circle the responding variable***

Reading Read “Is Color a Factor in Attracting Cabbage Whites to a Food Source?” Page 75

Background Information: Discuss with your partner what you know about the feeding patterns of butterfly’s. Pick one fact to share with the class.

Background Information: List the information Background Information: List the information about feeding habits shared in class. Put the information in bulleted form.

Hypothesis Take one minute and discuss what your hypothesis should be. What are the key elements in your hypothesis? If ………….. Then………………………. I think this because……… ***Remember the “because” portion is why you think what you do – it must be scientific and needs to reflect a scientific answer***

If we offer the butterfly’s different colors of nectar (red, blue, green, yellow and clear) then the butterfly will be attracted to the yellow nectar because the butterfly’s seem to be attracted to the brightest colors. The droppings with the highest amount of the same color represents the color they are most attracted to. The White Cabbage Butterfly’s can not digest colors so the droppings will be the same color as the nectar they drink.

Materials List your materials: Nectar solution 4 feeding tubes Paper on the bottom of the butterfly house

Procedures Remember to start with variables. Control Variable: What do you need to keep the same in the experiment? Manipulative Variable: What are you testing? Responding Variable: What are you measuring: Experimental Control: What are you comparing the manipulative variable to? Validity Measures: Run three trials (each trial can be a time period)

Procedures Control Variable: Same amount of nectar, same feeding stations, make sure butterfly’s have established eating patterns before beginning the experiment Manipulative Variable: Blue, red, yellow and green nectar Responding Variable: Color of the droppings Experimental Control: Clear nectar Validity Measures: Repeat experiment over a period of three days.

Use the space to create a data table. Remember this is a “technicality” for the WASL. If done correctly, the data table will net you 5 out of the 9 points available on the scientific method portion.

Number of Butterfly Droppings Day # of red drops P A # of blue drops # of yellow drops # of green drops # of clear drops # of drops for each day Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 # of drops for each color Average number of drops

Materials Water Food coloring Petri dish Light Butterfly Radish plant Oranges, bananas, nectar Nectar feeding system White paper

Procedure Steps Remember the steps need to be: Read steps 1-8 on page 76-77 Detailed Specific Include drawing when possible Include measurements when possible Include measuring and recording All variable should be represented in your procedure **Can someone else follow Your experiment and get the Same results?

Conclusion 2 paragraphs Write with passion

First paragraph Write with passion – put your “stamp” on the conclusion. Introduce your experiment to the reader Restate hypothesis Was your hypotheses correct or not. State why – use a scientific reason (remember that the scientific reason is now your data.)

2nd paragraph What did you learn about butterflies? Discuss the data Be sure to include the high points and low points. (Don’t use the words “high point, low point”) What were the mistakes in the experiment? Write a new hypothesis. Remember to discuss patterns, etc. Don’t just list your data. Explain what it means.

Analysis Write two questions for further study. Remember that a good scientific question needs to have the manipulative and responding variables.