Ecoplot Research Project
Assigned: Sept 6, Due: October 14th
Overarching Investigation Question
How do the changing abiotic conditions in the summer to fall transition of the year affect the biotic inhabitants of an ecosystem in southwest Michigan?
Overarching Investigation Question
How do the changing abiotic conditions in the summer to fall transition of the year affect the biotic inhabitants of an ecosystem in southwest Michigan?
Project Resources
Ecoplot Log - Use this Log to keep track of your data for the next 5-6 weeks
|
Ecoplot Project Paper Instructions and outline - Use this as a guide to writing your project paper.
Ecoplot Project Grading Rubric - Consult this often as you prepare your project
|
Soil Analysis: September 9 - September 13
Open the document in the link to begin this weeks investigation.
9/9 Essential Question this week: Why bother taking care of soil?Welcome Back - Happy Monday!
Have the following checked today:
Homework this week = Collect Insects at your plot and complete a journal entry for the collection visit(s). Insects are due in class next Monday, September 18th. Record these observations in yout Ecoplot Log. In-Class work this week =
Monday, 9/9
Tuesday, 9/10
Homework = Get to your plots for Insects and Plants. Insects needed in class Monday! |
Resources: If you need Help!
Wednesday, 9/11
Thursday, 9/12 and Friday 9/13 Same plan as yesterday.
|
Monday, 9/16
Dirt! The Movie Reflective Journal Entry
Make a journal entry following the your viewing of the movie that addresses the 3 “I cans” below.
1. I can describe the chemical and physical components of soil and how soils are developed.
2. I can describe the characteristics of a fertile or “good” soil.
3. I can explain human impact on ecosystems (in this case, various activities that have a negative effect on soils world wide currently and in the past).
Ecoplot Insect Identification: September 16 - September 20
Copyright Channels.com
Using the techniques described in your directions, you will need to collect, identify and mount 4-5 insects from your Ecoplot.
Resources:
Grading: Scoring Rubric for both insects and plants.
Resources:
- For help with identification, use www.bugguide.net .
- Found a spider? try this blog http://michiganspiders.blogspot.com
- Your a visual person https://www.insectidentification.org/insects-by-state.asp?thisState=Michigan
- For Labels: Plant and Insect Labels Template
Grading: Scoring Rubric for both insects and plants.
Essential Question for this week: How might biotic potential of your soil effect the numbers and varieties of insects on your ecoplot?
This Weeks Assignments:
In Class work =
Tuesday, 9/18 and Wednesday, 9/19
Thursday, 9/20 Use today to work on any of the following:
|
Use these diagrams to help get aqauinted with some the language and terminology used in the identification of insects.
Friday, 9/21 Use today to work on any of the following: Agenda:
|
Ecoplot Plant ID: September 23 - September 27
Plant Identification will be more of a challenge than the insects and will require some patience and attention to distinct plant characteristics. We will use the 3 texts below. The purpose of this activity is to slow down and take a closer look at plant characteristics and to learn how they are used in their identification This Weeks Assignments: In Class work =
Helpful Links for Plant ID |
Leaf Chromatography
Date TBD
Find Instructions on Scoology
Date TBD
Find Instructions on Scoology
Constructing Your Ecoplot Paper Oct 1 - 9(?)
Due October 14th, End of the day.
This Weeks Assignments =
In class work:
Homework:
Ecoplot Paper Resources:
|
Use the file to the left in Ecoplot resources to follow along with Monday's instructions on how to chart your data for your Research Paper.
Required Charts for your Ecoplot papers =
|
Tracking The Weather and Climate of your EcoplotThis link will take you to NOAA's National weather service page. It is a tool you can use to monitor the changes in climate that have occurred on your plot since we began the investigation. If you missed some climate data or simply want to know what happened on days you were not at your plot, this will give you an idea of that days weather. It will look like the image to the right.
Instructions for determining the amount of Precipitation for your Ecoplot |
Ecoplot Project Research Paper Completion
This Weeks Assignments =
In class work:
|
Click here for a Copy of the Project Rubric
Monday, 9/25
Our Great Lakes Awareness Field Trip
- Be sure your student forms are turned in declaring your permission to attend field trips
- Remember to bring a lunch and some snacks. We will not be going to a restaurant or be near any type of vending machines.
- Before boarding, we need to discuss these safety procedures.
- Find your Assignment for the feild trip on Schoology prior to leaving Monday and bring your journal and something to write with.
- Link to photos from the Trip (these will be uploaded after we return)
- Provided Resource Regarding Great Lakes Research.