Field Study

 

Group Members: ________________________________________________________________________                                                                   

Date: ______________________________                                                              Class: ____________

 

Introduction:

Your job will be to work together as a group and explore a study area in the schoolyard.

 

Group Member Jobs:

As a group, you must decide on who will perform the following tasks at the study site:

 

1)  Site Sketcher and Biotic (plant) Collector will sketch the study area in detail and carefully dig one plant that will be transplanted into our classroom ecosystem. 

 

Name: _____________________________ 

 

2)  Abiotic Collector will collect as many abiotic items as possible from the site. They will also examine the site for evidence of human impact.

 

Name: _____________________________

 

3)  Biotic (insect/animal) Collector will collect as many animals as they can from the site and place them in the observation containers.  This will require 2 people.

 

Name: _____________________________                           Name: _______________________________

 

Tasks:

 

1)  Select an area of the yard as your study area.  Check with Mr. Rabidoux before proceeding.

 

2)  Using your popsicle sticks and string, mark off the area your will study.

 

3)  Measure and map your study area.  Measure the height of any plants or shrubs.

 

4)  Search the area for animals.  Make note on a piece of lined paper where you found them and what they were doing when you found them.  Carefully capture each animal in an observation container.

 

5)   Select one small plant and carefully dig it out of the ground using the spoon.  Examine the soil for any insects.  Place the plant in the green container.

 

6)  Collect abiotic components of your study area and place them in the bucket.  Look for signs of human impact and record them on a piece of paper.

 

7)  Once you have thoroughly studied your area, pack everything back up and bring everything back into the class (including your biotic and abiotic items).

 

8)  Complete the Lab Report as a group.

 

 

 

Lab Report

 

Group Members: ________________________________________________________________________                                                                   

Date: ______________________________                                                              Class: ____________

 

Materials:

In the space below, list all the materials used in your study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedure:

List exactly what you did in your study area, step by step.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Sketches:

Make a sketch of 4 biotic elements and 2 abiotic elements found in your study area.  Use the sketching paper that is on the front desk.  Label and colour your sketches.  Mount each sketch on a piece of construction paper.

 

 

 

Observations:

Complete the following table.  If you need more room, create a table on lined paper and attach it to your lab report.

 

Organism collected	Where it was found	What it was doing when found	What you think it might eat and why.

 

Transplant:  Replant your plant in the terrarium.  Leave the insects and animals out for now.