Summer Research Program for Science Teachers
Norman Thomas High School, Manhattan
2000
Observing and Recording Biological Data
Living Environment Lesson Plan
Subject: Science Grade 8-12
The
following is a fun activity that fully aligns with the National Science Standards. The lesson will involve a school outing as well as usage
of a video camera.
Aim: How are
living things similar to and different from each other and
Background:
Living things are similar in that they rely on many of the same processes
to stay alive, yet diverse in the ways that these processes and interactions are
carried out. Nonliving things
however lack certain features of living organisms. In this lesson, students will be
utilizing their powers of observation and ability to collect scientific data as they gather evidence of life and non-life in a marine
ecosystem.
I.O. Students will be able to
1.
formulate
a basic definition of life
2. observe
the eight characteristics of life (reproduction, nutrition, synthesis, etc) in
living organisms
3. compare
and contrast characteristic of living and nonliving things
Motivation:
1.
field
trip to the Aquarium
2. students
will be using a video camera to collect scientific data.
Materials:
1.
digital
video camera
2. pen/pencil
3. small
data collection notebook
4. teacher
generated data collection sheet (optional)
Activity:
1.
students
will work in small groups (team work)
2. each
group will be given a specific research topic to investigate, i.e.; reproduction
in fish
3. Students
will write their preliminary observations in their data collection
notebook. Here they can answer any
questions the teacher may have for them
4. each
group will be given approximately 20 minutes each to explore the aquarium's
sites to carry out the investigation.
5. each
group will record their observations on video and present their findings in an
organized video presentation to the entire class.
Homework:
1.
After
analyzing your own set of data as well as the data for the
entire class, answer
the following question: How are living things
similar to each other
as well as different from each other?
2. How
are living things different from nonliving things?
3. What
did you learn from your field trip experience?
4. Present the results of your experiment in a visual form (diagram, chart, etc.)