Field Investigation

Work in pairs to investigate phenomena of your choice while in the field.  Design an investigation of your choice.  The following a are a few ideas that may help you think of possible investigations. You may use any of the 

• Phenomena - Questions

  • • The first NGSS Science and Engineering practice is to ask questions and define problems.  Questions and problems arise from careful observations of phenomena.  The camera is an excellent tool for documenting phenomena.  Use the photograph, panorama, video, slow-motion video, and time-lapse video features in your cell phone camera to document phenomena

      • Watch this video on photographing phenomenon 

      • Take photos and videos of phenomena that can lead to science investigations. 

      • Create a digital online photo map of your phenomena- to see where they are found.  Annotate the description of each photo or video to describe how this phenomena can lead to a discussion of specific science concepts. 

• Distribution of plant and animal species

  • • Use iNaturalist and Plant Snap to  identify plant and animal species in the field.  

    • How do the plant and animal species vary with distance from North Pond, Haskell Creek or other features?

    • What species are found in which environments?

• Temperature variations in the environment

  • • Take photographs of three scenes that include:

      • natural and manmade features (e.g. - concrete channel bottom vs natural stream-bottom)

      • various natural environments (e.g. - grassland vs. woodland)

      • various aspects of manmade environments (e.g. different facing slopes of concrete channel)

    • Use an infrared thermometer gun to detect temperature variations in the environment that you have photographed

    • Using your cell phone app, write the temperatures detected with the IR thermometer on the appropriate portions of the photograph

    • Post your photos in the appropriate folder

• Environmental factors

  • • Use  sensors on you cell phone  to determine how various abiotic factors vary in the environment

      • Google Science Journal - Collect data in the field (acceleration, light intensity, sound, magnetic field)

      • PhyPhox - Use a variety of phone-based sensors to record environmental data

    • How does sound volume vary as distance from streets or freeways. How does it vary with depth in the LA River?

    • How does light intensity vary with percent canopy cover, direction, slope or other variable.

• Photographic tools

  • • Creating a Photo-Map - Post your field trip photos in an online digital map.  Collaborate with colleagues. 

    • Heat Map - Use IR satellite imagery to identify human causes of temperature variation within the city.

    •  - How to mark up photos on your phone to show temperature variation with a single scene

    • Phenomena-based learning - Identifying Phenomena, seeing patterns, and asking questions

    • Photographing phenomenon - Use your camera to record natural and manmade phenomena.