Elwha Investigation

You will participate in hands-on data collection at the Elwha River and do a scientific investigation to contribute a new branch to the tree of science.

Part 1: Field Trip Preparation and Field Trip

What Students Need to Bring on Elwha Field Trip

• -Closed-toed shoes to walk along the river (boots optional)

• -School lunch is provided, but you can bring other food *please leave behind junk food

• -Water

• -Pencils

• -Rain jacket/poncho

• -Warm layers (fleece is better than cotton if it is going to rain)

• -Hat and gloves if it looks like it will be cold

• -Backpack to carry supplies

• -Do NOT bring your phone - we will have class cameras and an emergency cell phone 

• -Do NOT bring your science notebook or binder - your team will get a data sheet and clipboard

Part 2: Field Trip Data Collection

For more than 15 years, Stevens Middle School students have been collecting data at the Elwha River. 

Observe the Elwha Data 2006-Present.  

These are the types of data we will collect in the field.

Use the Elwha Data Collection Sheet to record data and write down observations while in the field.

In partnership with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, we will also learn cultural history of the Elwha River and Restoration Project.  

For teachers, here is a field work equipment list.

Observation and Prior Knowledge

Use your observations from p. 2 of the Elwha Data Collection Sheet for your "Observations" section of your investigation write-up, and use information you learned in class from the Elwha River Introduction lesson and your journal for your "Prior Knowledge" section.

Part 3: Investigative Question

Observe past student samples of investigations.  Each of these represents a different "type" of investigation (they also have different independent and dependent variables).

Investigation Types:

• Location Investigation

• Change Over Time Investigation

• Relationship Investigation

As you observe past student samples, please write in your journal:

• 1. Which "type" of investigation is it?

  2. What is the independent variable?

  3. What is the dependent variable?

  4. Then score the sample using the Inquiry Rubric (p.3).

For your Elwha investigation, your group will choose your independent variable (location, time or one parameter from the following list) and your dependent variable (one parameter from the list below).

• pH

• dissolved oxygen

• turbidity

• benthic macroinvertebrates

• birds 

• sediment size

Discuss these options with your table group, and collectively decide on an investigation type and parameter(s).  In your journal, write your: 

• Investigation Type: ______________________________

• Independent Variable: ______________________________  

• Dependent Variable: ______________________________

Choose your independent variable (location, time or one parameter from the following list) and your dependent variable (one parameter from the list below).

• pH

• dissolved oxygen

• turbidity

• benthic macroinvertebrates

• birds 

• sediment size

Investigation Type Templates:

• Location Template --- (Modified version)

• Change over Time Template --- (Modified version)

• Relationship Template --- (Modified version)

Question: Write your question in your journal and have the teacher check it.

Then put your investigation assignment template in your journal just after the Scientific Inquiry page to easily reference the provided sample investigation.

Once you choose your investigation type and get your template, complete these steps:

Observation/Prior Knowledge: Write your observations (sensory observations) and prior knowledge (facts on your topic) on your template.

Question: Write your question in your journal and have the teacher check it. When you get a template, write your question on your template.

Part 4: Hypothesis

On your template (or in your journal if you need more space), write your hypothesis (in "If ____, then ____, because ____" format).

Part 5: Materials and Procedure

On your template (or in your journal if you need more space), make a materials list (needs a tool to measure dependent variable).

Then, on your template (or in your journal if you need more space), write a scientific procedure for how to collect the data required by your investigation. (you may refer to the protocols in "Biotic-Abiotic" Part 4 for help).

Part 6: Data

On your template (or in your journal if you need more space), create a data table with your independent variable on the left and your dependent variable on the right. (Later you will get an electronic copy to use.)

Observe the Elwha Data 2006-Present and fill in your data table in your journal (you may have to calculate averages).  Add in the data you collected this year. (Optional: See raw data sheets from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.)

Part 7: Graph

On your template (or in your journal if you need more space), create a graph based on the data table you created.  

Note: location and change over time investigations should be point-line graphs and relationship investigations should be x-y scatter plots.

Part 8: Conclusion

On your template (or in your journal if you need more space), write a scientific conclusion. 

In your conclusion, be sure to: 

• Answer the question (claim)

• Cite evidence (averages)

• Cite more evidence (subtract/divide/manipulate averages or report a line of best fit)

• Explain results (use reasoning to connect your claim to a science concept)

Part 9: Poster

Put your investigation into a large poster template.

Go to classroom.google.com where you have a Google Slide with your poster template and a Google Sheet with your data.  

All people in the group share the same poster; each person has their own data sheet.

Type your scientific method steps into the poster, and make it professional. 

For photos to include in your poster, follow instructions on the Google Slide to put photos into your poster.

Part 10: Peer Review

View the Peer Review movie to see guidelines about how to properly and respectfully give peer review. 

Students will review 1-2 other investigation poster drafts and write your scores (based on the rubric on p. 3 here) and feedback on the Peer Review Template.

To do this: 

• Set up the Symposium with posters on the walls.

• Each student gets a Peer Review feedback form to fill out.

• Then watch the sample 2-min Poster Symposium about how to present work. 

• 2 adjacent groups pair up per the teacher's directions. 

• One group hosts the other for a 2-minute practice presentation.

• The observers fill out feedback forms and give them to the presenters.

• The groups switch roles and repeat.

• After groups receive peer review, students revise their work.

• If time allows, two different adjacent groups pair up and repeat this process.

Part 11: Poster Symposium (Presentation)

Elwha Investigation Posters will be hung on classroom walls. 

View a movie sample of a 2-minute Poster Symposium. (Prior-year sample here, 1-min sample here, 2023 sample here)

Tour the room, read posters, ask questions, and fill in the Poster Symposium Feedback Forms. (See past sample exemplary feedback forms here - funny ones here.)

During the symposium, here are the guidelines.

• • There are 8 stations that visitors rotate through; each station lasts 2 minutes.

  • During the 2 minutes, you:

    • Welcome the visitors & introduce yourselves and your team number

    • Provide an overview of your investigation while looking at the visitors and pointing to the poster.

    • Say "Thank you, are there any questions?" and if there are none, your group keeps talking about your investigation.

  • Everyone talks. 

During the symposium, students are needed for these roles:

• • Welcome: Before sessions, welcome visitors outside the doorway with these guidelines: Show respect while listening, asking questions, & giving feedback.

  • Data: Count and record the number of non-7th grade visitors we have.

  • Sort: After the sessions, sort feedback slips into piles for each table group.

After the symposium, students receive and read the feedback slips for their poster.

In your journal and/or in discussion, respond to the following.

1. What pieces of feedback were repeated?

2. What is the most helpful comment you received?

3. In what ways could you change your poster?

4. What sorts of feedback are you most open to receiving (written vs. oral, subtle vs. blunt, etc.)?

Then, pull out the best constructive slip and a funny slip to share with the class.

Large Poster: 

If you want your poster printed large for the walls of the school and community, please talk with the teacher about how to further revise your poster to be printed.

Elwha Investigation Extension 1: Poster Review

In your journal, write the following for 5 different posters.

1. Poster name

2. The independent variable in the investigation

3. The dependent variable in the investigation

4. Which scientific method step was very well-done

5. Your favorite part of the poster

Elwha Investigation Extension 2: Different Poster Types

Here are other investigation types that you can use to follow Parts 3-9 above to make additional scientific posters.

• Location Investigation  -  Bonus Location Sample

• Before / After Investigation

• Change Over Time Investigation

• Relationship Investigation

Elwha Investigation Alternative Assessment: Roll, Muddy River

Here is the "Roll, Muddy River" assignment that can be used as an alternative and/or makeup assessment for the Elwha Investigation.  Here is an assessment that can be used for some of the steps of the scientific method.