intro to ecology and the scientific method

EcologyEcologyMr. NettlesMr. Nettles

Class MottoClass Motto

Discipline fuels character!Discipline fuels character!

Character builds hope!Character builds hope!

Hope assures your future!Hope assures your future!

Agenda- Friday, January 6, Agenda- Friday, January 6, 20112011

1.1. Warm UpWarm Up

2.2. What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

3.3.Biomes VideoBiomes Video

4.4.Exploring Ecuadorian EcologyExploring Ecuadorian Ecology

5.5.Wrap Up (LIA)Wrap Up (LIA)

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

I will explore different aspects of I will explore different aspects of ecology?ecology?

I will understand the steps involved in I will understand the steps involved in the scientific method.the scientific method.

I will define ecology, hypothesis, I will define ecology, hypothesis, quantitative, qualitative, independent quantitative, qualitative, independent variable, dependent variable, and variable, dependent variable, and control.control.

Warm UpWarm Up

1.1.What do you know about What do you know about ecology?ecology?

1.1.How is ecology used in our How is ecology used in our everyday world?everyday world?

Use the internet to search the Use the internet to search the word “Ecology” to help you word “Ecology” to help you answer the warm up questions.answer the warm up questions.

What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

Eco = nature, environmentEco = nature, environment

logy = “the study of”logy = “the study of”

Eco + logy = Eco + logy = EcologyEcology

the study of the relationships the study of the relationships that living organisms have with that living organisms have with each other and their natural each other and their natural environmentenvironment

Wrap Up (Jan. 6)Wrap Up (Jan. 6)

1.1.What was one fact that you What was one fact that you LearnedLearned today? today?

2.2.What was the most What was the most Interesting Interesting thing about today’s class?thing about today’s class?

3.3.How can you How can you Apply Apply or use the or use the information that you learned information that you learned today? today?

Agenda- Thurs., January Agenda- Thurs., January 12, 201112, 2011

1.1. Warm UpWarm Up

2.2.The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

3.3.Should My Friend Date Taylor Should My Friend Date Taylor Swift?Swift?

4.4.Wrap Up (LIA)Wrap Up (LIA)

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

I will understand the steps I will understand the steps involved in the scientific method.involved in the scientific method.

I will define hypothesis, I will define hypothesis, quantitative, qualitative, quantitative, qualitative, independent variable, dependent independent variable, dependent variable, and control.variable, and control.

Warm Up (Jan. 12)Warm Up (Jan. 12)

1.1.What are the four essential What are the four essential elements of ecological life elements of ecological life that you learned from the that you learned from the short film last week?short film last week?

1.1.Define Ecology.Define Ecology.

Warm Up (Jan. 12)Warm Up (Jan. 12)

1.1.Water, Nutrients, Energy, and Water, Nutrients, Energy, and Appropriate Temperature.Appropriate Temperature.

1.1.EcologyEcology is the study of the is the study of the relationships that living relationships that living organisms have with each organisms have with each other and their natural other and their natural environment.environment.

Steps of the Scientific MethodSteps of the Scientific Method

The The Scientific Scientific MethodMethod is a is a

series of steps series of steps that scientists that scientists agree are a agree are a

logical way to logical way to perform an perform an experiment. experiment.

1.1. State the Problem or QuestionState the Problem or Question

2.2. Make Observations or Do ResearchMake Observations or Do Research

3.3. Form a HypothesisForm a Hypothesis

4.4. Test your Hypothesis or Test your Hypothesis or ExperimentExperiment

5.5. Collect and Analyze ResultsCollect and Analyze Results

6.6. State your ConclusionState your Conclusion

7.7. Communicate the ResultsCommunicate the Results

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

1. 1. State the Problem: Develop a question or problem that can be

solved through experimentation.


2. 2. Make Observations or Do Research: Get

information. Gather the “411”.

Key Points Key Points for Making for Making ObservationsObservations

Observations are made with your Observations are made with your five senses: sight, taste, hear, five senses: sight, taste, hear, touch, smell.touch, smell.

Observations are Observations are QuantitativeQuantitative if if they use numbers and they use numbers and QualitativeQualitative if they use descriptions.if they use descriptions.

Observations are made while you Observations are made while you are gathering informationare gathering information

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking ExampleExample

PROBLEM: Why are students PROBLEM: Why are students always late to class?always late to class?

What is a quantitative What is a quantitative observation for this situation?observation for this situation?

What is a qualitative What is a qualitative observation for this situation?observation for this situation?


3. 3. Form a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer

to the problem or question. This is usually written as

a statement.

Example: If soil temperatures rise, then

plant growth will increase.

Key Points Key Points for Forming a for Forming a HypothesisHypothesis

The The hypothesishypothesis is an is an educated guesseducated guess about the about the relationship between the relationship between the independent and dependent independent and dependent variables.variables.

A hypothesis is usually A hypothesis is usually written as an IF/THEN written as an IF/THEN statement.statement.

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method4. 4. Test you Hypothesis or Experiment: Develop and

follow a procedure to test your hypothesis.

Include a detailed materials list.

The outcome must be measurable (quantifiable).

What is Variable?What is Variable?

A A VARIABLEVARIABLE is a factor in is a factor in an experiment that can an experiment that can change.change.

There are two types of There are two types of variables in an experiment: variables in an experiment: INDEPENDENT variable INDEPENDENT variable and and the the DEPENDENT variable.DEPENDENT variable.

Independent VariableIndependent Variable

The The independent or independent or manipulating variable manipulating variable is is the factor that is the factor that is intentionally changedintentionally changed by by the person doing the the person doing the experiment.experiment.

Dependent VariableDependent Variable

The The dependent or dependent or responding variable responding variable is is the factor that may the factor that may change because of change because of changes made to the changes made to the independent variable.independent variable.

Controls or Controls or ConstantsConstants

CONTROLS or CONSTANTS CONTROLS or CONSTANTS are are factors that scientists factors that scientists purposely purposely keep the SAME keep the SAME in an experiment.in an experiment.

The The purpose of a control purpose of a control is to ELIMINATE OUTSIDE is to ELIMINATE OUTSIDE FACTORS that may throw FACTORS that may throw off the experiment.off the experiment.


5. 5. Collect and Analyze Collect and Analyze ResultsResults: Modify the : Modify the procedure if needed.procedure if needed.

Confirm the results by Confirm the results by retesting.retesting.

Include tables, graphs, and Include tables, graphs, and photographs.photographs.


6. 6. State your Conclusion: Include a : Include a statement that accepts statement that accepts

or rejects the or rejects the hypothesis.hypothesis.

Make recommendations Make recommendations for further study and for further study and possible improvements possible improvements

to the procedure.to the procedure.


7. 7. Communicate the Communicate the ResultsResults: Be prepared : Be prepared

to present the project to present the project to an audience.to an audience.

Expect questions from Expect questions from the audience. the audience.

SHOULD MY FRIEND SHOULD MY FRIEND DATE TAYLOR SWIFT?DATE TAYLOR SWIFT?

Using the Scientific Method…Using the Scientific Method…

What’s the first step?What’s the first step?

Step 1: State the Step 1: State the Problem or Question!Problem or Question!

Should my friend date Should my friend date Taylor Swift?Taylor Swift?

Next step?Next step?

Step 2: Make Step 2: Make Observations or Do Observations or Do

ResearchResearchPROS:PROS:

PrettyPretty

Has a lot of Has a lot of moneymoney

Grammy-award Grammy-award winning artistwinning artist

Lives in Lives in NashvilleNashville

CONS:CONS:

May be in a May be in a relationshiprelationship

She may think She may think he is stalkerhe is stalker

Step 3: Write a Step 3: Write a hypothesis.hypothesis.

If my friend dates Taylor Swift, then he If my friend dates Taylor Swift, then he will be happier! (and so will she) will be happier! (and so will she)

Step 4: Test your Step 4: Test your Hypothesis or Hypothesis or ExperimentExperiment

Independent Variable: Dating TaylorIndependent Variable: Dating Taylor

Dependent Variable: How much happier Dependent Variable: How much happier my friend gets than if he didn’t date my friend gets than if he didn’t date herher

Control: Not going on a date with Control: Not going on a date with TaylorTaylor

Variable: Date with TaylorVariable: Date with Taylor

Step 5: Collect and Step 5: Collect and Analyze ResultsAnalyze Results

Measure his happiness from the Measure his happiness from the control. (No date with Taylor)control. (No date with Taylor)

Measure his happiness from the Measure his happiness from the variable. (Date with Taylor doing the variable. (Date with Taylor doing the same thing he was doing alone)same thing he was doing alone)

Compare happiness.Compare happiness.

Step 6: State your Step 6: State your conclusion.conclusion.

If my friend dates Taylor Swift then he will If my friend dates Taylor Swift then he will be happier! (and so will she)be happier! (and so will she)

CONFIRMED!CONFIRMED!

Step 7: Communicate Step 7: Communicate the Resultsthe Results

BRAG about your date with BRAG about your date with Taylor Swift to your Taylor Swift to your friends!friends!

Wrap Up (Jan. 12)Wrap Up (Jan. 12)

1.1.What was one fact that you What was one fact that you LearnedLearned today? today?

2.2.What was the most What was the most Interesting Interesting thing about today’s class?thing about today’s class?

3.3.How can you How can you Apply Apply or use the or use the information that you learned information that you learned today? today?

Agenda- Tues., January 17, Agenda- Tues., January 17, 20112011

1.1. Warm UpWarm Up

2.2.The Mindset of a ScientistThe Mindset of a Scientist

Warm UpWarm Up

What are the 7 steps of the What are the 7 steps of the scientific method?scientific method?

What is a quantitative What is a quantitative observation?observation?

What is a qualitative What is a qualitative observation?observation?

““The Mindset of a The Mindset of a Scientist”Scientist”

Instructions: Instructions:

1.1. Form teams of two and brainstorm Form teams of two and brainstorm about a topic you want to about a topic you want to explore.explore.o The topic can be related to The topic can be related to

sports, movies, politics, food, sports, movies, politics, food, a job you desire, etc.a job you desire, etc.

2.2. State a problem related to your State a problem related to your topic.topic.

3.3. Use the internet to research 7 Use the internet to research 7 quantitative and 7 qualitative quantitative and 7 qualitative observations about your topic.observations about your topic.

Instructions: Instructions: 4.4. Form a hypothesis related to Form a hypothesis related to

your topic. your topic.

5.5. Start the process of setting up Start the process of setting up an experiment to test your an experiment to test your hypothesis.hypothesis.o You need to indentify the You need to indentify the

independent variable, the independent variable, the dependent variable, and at least dependent variable, and at least 5 controls (including the purpose 5 controls (including the purpose of each).of each).

intro to ecology and the scientific method

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