Curated OER
Monoculture and Polyculture
Ecology explorers collect soil and invertebrates from a monoculture and a polyculture area. They relate the number and types of invertebrates to the surrounding environmental conditions. This activity can be used as an introduction to...
Curated OER
Tallying Local Species to Learn About Diversity
Using this thoroughly-written plan, you can have your junior ecologists exploring local biodiversity. They take a journal outdoors to tally the species that they see. An article is included along with comprehension questions. The author...
Curated OER
Wetland vs. Stream Macroinvertebrates
A link to a comprehensive macroinvertebrate guide gives you the information needed to prepare for this field study activity. Sample macroinvertebrates are collected from areas representing different environmental conditions. Junior...
Curated OER
Sheffield Island Adaptation Activity
You don't have to visit The Maritime Aquarium to use this plan, but you would need to find a location where a variety of bird species live, re-write the activity worksheet to incorporate the local species, and purchase field guides for...
Curated OER
Hands on Habitat
Students teach others about habitats. In this Science lesson, students use a Science Log to record data about a habitat for research. Students analyze the data and construct an eco-chamber. Students share what they have found with other...
Curated OER
Studying a Piece of an Ecosystem
Students carry out an outdoor land study in which they identify organisms living in the soil, and any other animals living within the site. Groups also examine abiotic factors. They respond to a series of questions concerning their data...
Curated OER
Get Your Butt off the Beach!
Students participate in a Beach Field Study in which the analyze the affect pollution is having on beaches and the animals that live there. Students focus specifically on the damage cigarette butts are causing on the environment.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Nature of the Land Around Us
An inquiry investigation which allows students to drive their learning by creating questions about the land around them. They collect varied data to analyze the nature of the land, and as a result, investigate erosion and weathering in...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Garden, Garden, What Do You Do?
Students explore different gardens on our school grounds to investigate the natural world using inquiry and their senses. The students will take a guided walk from garden to garden using their observations to notice and wonder how...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Goldenrod Gall Investigation
In this life science field investigation students study goldenrod gall population.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Green Space Investigation: From Observation to Testable Questions
A field-based inquiry activity which begins with a small, focused, teacher-chosen domain of study, and then helps students develop investigable questions from their observations.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Courtyard Observations One Small Step
Students observe a one square foot area to make detailed observations of plants, animals, and insects outdoors in the school courtyard.
Other
Market Connections: Research Faq
This page offers explanations of research methods and how they work. Though aimed at businesses, it provides good information about conducting school research as well.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Field Study
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of and reasons for field study.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Minnesota River Valley Rocks: Outdoor Observational Investigation
In this investigation, students will observe, record and compare the differing landscapes and rocks located at three sites along the MN River Valley.
Other
Food Chains and Webs
A very informative site that discusses food chains and webs in detail. Not too complicated and fairly easy to understand, it also includes some pictures.