Usage and types of Data in understanding a habitat
Student Goals: Students collect and learn to interpret data.
Instructional Resources: Data collecting tools: pH strips, phosphate test strips, nitrite/nitrate strips, Dissolved Oxygen meter, Hobo temp temperature probes, other tools for measuring data as they are available.
Activities:
 | Students collect data. This is often done by a couple within the class for each type of data, but results can be interpreted as a class. Students graph the data and learn different ways to present data. Look for anomalies in the data and discuss why. |
| Using a couple or a few temperature measuring devices (Hobo's or thermometers), follow the temperature changes in a bucket of water, soil, and air and discuss the significance of this to global weather patterns (air changes quickest, land next, and the water acts as a stabilizing factor). This is one of the main variables that causes on/off shore breezes. Graph different data sets using line graphs over time. |
| Look at historical fire data, temperature data, precipitation data, or other available information and identify trends/patterns. Make predictions. |
Cross-curricular:
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Language Arts: Write about and describe how data can be used well, carelessly, or deceptively. |
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Math: Use and create graphs to illustrate data. |
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Science: Examine different habitats and weather by using data. Use the data as an objective tool for comparing populations of wildlife, plants, or for making predictions of recovery. Students learn techniques for standardized data reading and collection.. |
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Social Studies: Look at historical data and analyze it's effect on social situations in the region. |
Multi-sensory- learner involvement & self assessment / Outcome:
| Students design their own data collection projects for a period of weeks. Data should support what the objective was and have a neat table and graph. Conclusions based on the data should be listed as well as any anomalies and why. |
Extensions:
| Lots of data exist already and there are many ways that students can collect data. |