Watch the Bozeman Science video " Planning and Carrying out Investigations"

• Think about a question that you have about something in and around your home.

• If you can, focus on a question that relates to animal and plant interactions.

• How could you design an experiment that would answer that question?

Design your own experiment - by using these simulations to learn more about invasive species.

The first simulation is a game that gets increasingly complex, where the goal is to eliminate an invasive species. In each iteration, more native and/or more invasive species are added.

• Simulation : Invaders!

Reflection Questions

• In the first simulation, did it get harder to control the invasive species as you went on in the game? Why or why not?

• What patterns did you see between invasive and native species in the first simulation between the four different locations?

In the second simulation you will learn more about native and nonnative species in a given situation and then asked to make a graphic and a prediction based on what you have learned. You will then be given the actual graph to compare their prediction to.

• Simulation link : How do introduced species affect the environment?

• Instructions to help with this simulation

Reflection questions:

• How did learning about the species involved in the situations in the second simulation help you make an accurate prediction?

• How does this simulate what scientists do who study ecosystem interactions?

• What patterns did you see in the second simulation between invasive and native species.

You have been introduced to a variety of different invasive species and their impact on the environment. You can now choose an invasive species to learn more about by researching it on your own.

• Here is a student worksheet to help you - Invasive Species Investigation Worksheet

Day 2: Continue on learning more about an invasive species of your choice.

• Here is a student worksheet to help you - Invasive Species Investigation Worksheet

What did you learn these last two weeks about how scientists and you plan and carry out investigations?

Use this Graphic Organizer to help organize one experiment.