Data Collection

Students first predict what they think they will find in their schoolyard environment.

Then, working in groups, they observe a one-meter by one-meter square in their schoolyard.

They record data on the plants, animals and non-living objects they find.

Data is submitted to a "kid friendly" online database so that their findings can be shared with the other participating classes.

Instructions: Take a few minutes to review the sections below that illustrate these aspects of the project.

For this lesson the students spend about half an hour observing the animals, plants, and non-living objects in their square.  They then draw a sketch of their square based on their observations and use it to evaluate their initial predictions of what would be in the square.

- Kelly Graham, Cartwright Elementary School, Phoenix, AZ