Field Investigations

Section One: Fostering Outdoor Observation and Data Collection Skills 

Observation skills are critical for scientific inquiry. Traditionally, outdoor observation skills are not included in science education. 21st Century learning must include the ability to observe and undertake inquiry through multiple science and social science disciplines. As a result, the guidelines for Fostering Outdoor Observation Skills are designed to prepare students of primary school age to develop their outdoor observation skills through demonstrations and practice in real world situations. In this unit, students will be introduced to activities aimed at deepening their outdoor observation skills.

Lesson 1.1: Establishing Core Routines 

Lesson 1.2: Improving Observation Skills

Lesson 1.3: Data Collection Processes

Section Two: Field Investigations as Inquiry 

Field investigations help students become informed citizen scientists and engineers. Descriptive Field Investigations involve describing and/or quantifying parts of natural system, while Comparative Field Investigations involve collecting data on different populations/organisms or under different conditions to make a comparison.

Lesson 2.1: Descriptive Field Investigations

Lesson 2.2: Comparative Field Investigations

Section Three: Schoolyard Biodiversity 

Biodiversity can be defined on a variety of levels. Ecosystem biodiversity refers to the variety of habitats within a particular area or region. The Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigation focuses on species biodiversity, or the variety of plants and animals in a particular habitat.

Lesson 3.1: Defining Biodiversity

Lesson 3.2: Conducting a Biodiversity Investigation

Lesson 3.3: Calculating Biodiversity

Addenda

Outdoor Observation Skills - Data Collection Form

Next Generation Science Standards and the National Council of Social Studies Standards