Plankton Lab Directions:
You will get into pairs or groups of 3 (max). We will be looking at 5 samples of plankton from all over the world in the coming week. Before we look at the plankton, I want you to think about what we could find out about it.
Read the following directions:
Read "Three Types of Field Investigation Questions" below. Once you figure out the types of questions that can be asked...then you should come up with 9 questions that YOU CAN ASK about the plankton samples I have for you to investigate. The questions you create should eventually lead you to a procedure that you and your group could actually perform and learn more about our plankton. (But that is another day's lesson!)
*Together, your group should prepare three questions from each category. Please label each question as descriptive, comparative or correlative. Use the Google Drive App on your IPad to report your answers to me on a GOOGLE DOC and share this document with each other and me (Mrs. Southgate) as soon as you create it and put your group members names on it. Title it " NAME and NAME's Plankton Questions." (Fill in NAME with your name and your partner's name.) Work together! Since you are sharing this immediately, I will be available to help you from home. I'll hop on your document and help out if you need me, just ask a question on your doc. (The locations of the plankton samples are listed at the bottom of this page)
Read the following directions:
Read "Three Types of Field Investigation Questions" below. Once you figure out the types of questions that can be asked...then you should come up with 9 questions that YOU CAN ASK about the plankton samples I have for you to investigate. The questions you create should eventually lead you to a procedure that you and your group could actually perform and learn more about our plankton. (But that is another day's lesson!)
*Together, your group should prepare three questions from each category. Please label each question as descriptive, comparative or correlative. Use the Google Drive App on your IPad to report your answers to me on a GOOGLE DOC and share this document with each other and me (Mrs. Southgate) as soon as you create it and put your group members names on it. Title it " NAME and NAME's Plankton Questions." (Fill in NAME with your name and your partner's name.) Work together! Since you are sharing this immediately, I will be available to help you from home. I'll hop on your document and help out if you need me, just ask a question on your doc. (The locations of the plankton samples are listed at the bottom of this page)
Three Types of Field Investigation Questions
1. Descriptive Questions
Descriptive field investigations involve describing parts of a natural system. Descriptive questions
focus on measurable or observable variables that can be represented spatially in maps or as written
descriptions, estimations, averages, medians, or ranges.
· How many _____ are there in a given area?
· How frequently does _____ happen in a given period?
· What is the [temperature, speed, height, mass, density, force, distance, pH, dissolved oxygen,
light density, depth, etc.] of ______?
· When does _____ happen during the year? (flowering, fruit, babies born)
· Where does_____ travel over time? (What is an animal’s range?)
2. Comparative Questions
In comparative field investigations data is collected on different groups to make a comparison.
Comparative questions focus on one measured variable in at least two different (manipulated
variable) locations, times, organisms, or populations.
· 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 ______ at different times?
3. Correlative Questions
Correlative field investigations involve measuring or observing two variables and searching for a
pattern. Correlative questions focus on two variables to be measured and tested for a relationship.
· What is the relationship between variable #1 and variable #2?
· Does _____ go up when _____ goes down?
· How does _____ change as _____ changes?
1. Descriptive Questions
Descriptive field investigations involve describing parts of a natural system. Descriptive questions
focus on measurable or observable variables that can be represented spatially in maps or as written
descriptions, estimations, averages, medians, or ranges.
· How many _____ are there in a given area?
· How frequently does _____ happen in a given period?
· What is the [temperature, speed, height, mass, density, force, distance, pH, dissolved oxygen,
light density, depth, etc.] of ______?
· When does _____ happen during the year? (flowering, fruit, babies born)
· Where does_____ travel over time? (What is an animal’s range?)
2. Comparative Questions
In comparative field investigations data is collected on different groups to make a comparison.
Comparative questions focus on one measured variable in at least two different (manipulated
variable) locations, times, organisms, or populations.
· 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 ______ at different times?
3. Correlative Questions
Correlative field investigations involve measuring or observing two variables and searching for a
pattern. Correlative questions focus on two variables to be measured and tested for a relationship.
· What is the relationship between variable #1 and variable #2?
· Does _____ go up when _____ goes down?
· How does _____ change as _____ changes?