February Inquiry Day

By now, each group is fully in the data collection phase. Your procedures were finalized last semester so please stick with the steps you wrote. When you go into the field, you should have the following:

• Procedure - don't leave anything out!
• Data Tables - record your data as you collect it. Record your data directly into your data table. Each time numbers are transferred, there is a chance of making a mistake so please write directly into the table. This also allows you to have all of your "original" data in one place.
• Photo-taking device - How are you capturing the story? Collecting data in the field is more than just the numbers you measure. 
• An idea of the story you will tell - How will you present your data? What will be the story?
• Question/wonderings - Where are you recording this information?

Today's Goals

1. Collect data - by now your group should be able to get this done within 45 min - 1 hour
2. 1:15 - all groups back in the class
3. Update wall space
4. Update electronic data tables
5. Write-up today's story
6. Discuss data trends. What are you noticing about your data so far? Is your data supporting your hypothesis or not? What are you not so sure about? What else do you need to do?

Groups:

	Dr. Leaf
	Dust How does the quality of air change through out the year?
	JArs of light science
	Soiltologists
	The Owl Observers How Does The Water In The Pond Changes Throughout The Year
	The Pond
	The Raindrops How does the pH in rainwater change through out the year?

Inquiry Day!

Progress Reports were sent out today. Please look these over during the weekend. 

On Tuesday, your element project is due. There will also be an assessment regarding elements.

Today is an inquiry field day! The weather is beautiful so please enjoy your time outside as you collect data. Several groups have a need to conference with me so I will make myself available while groups are collecting data.

The personal due date of each person in this class for resubmission of Inquiry Project materials has passed. However, I have not received many updated projects. Where is yours?

Continued focus on group work: How does your group function?

• Does each group member have a job at all times?
• Are tasks divided up?
• Does your group have a priority list? Think of the tasks and make sure that there is a plan to get these tasks completed.

This month's ESLR is to be an Effective Communicator. How can you best communicate in your group? How are you communicated about your project to the AST community?

Due today!

• Collect data according to your procedure.
• Bulletin Board - What data have you collected for your question?
• By the end of class today, please make sure that your space on the bulletin board has been updated with a graph(s) that show your data. (What type of graph has your group chosen to use? Is it appropriate?)

Due date: Tuesday, November 13

• Reporting of Data Collected:
• Web Page: 
• Upload the data collected today to your web page.
• Write up of the data collection experience. 

Are you taking photographs as you work? These will be helpful at the end of your project!

Groups:

	Dr. Leaf
	Dust How does the quality of air change through out the year?
	JArs of light science
	Soiltologists
	The Owl Observers How Does The Water In The Pond Changes Throughout The Year
	The Pond
	The Raindrops How does the PH in rainwater change through out the year?

Inquiry Day!

Progress Reports were sent out today. Please look these over during the weekend. On Tuesday, we will discuss the last assessment.

Today is an inquiry field day! The weather is beautiful so please enjoy your time outside as you collect data. Several groups have a need to conference with me so I will make myself available while groups are collecting data.

***Each student in the class set personal due dates to update sections of your background report, variables, hypothesis, etc. Where are you in this process?

Key question for today: How does your group function?

• Does each group member have a job at all times?
• Are tasks divided up?
• Does your group have a priority list? Think of the tasks and make sure that there is a plan to get these tasks completed.

Due today!

• Collect data according to your procedure.
• Bulletin Board - What data have you collected for your question?
• By the end of class today, please make sure that your space on the bulletin board has been updated with a graph(s) that show your data. (What type of graph has your group chosen to use? Is it appropriate?)

Due date: Tuesday, November 6

• Reporting of Data Collected:
• Web Page: 
• Upload the data collected today to your web page.
• Write up of the data collection experience. 

Are you taking photographs as you work? These will be helpful at the end of your project!

Inquiry Field Day - last of the quarter!

Quarter 1 Project Criteria

Inquiry Dates past, present & future:

Date	Due	In-class	After class
Mon, August 27	Question Web Page framework “About Me” section	Background Assignment Procedure Map
Fri, Sept 14	Draft 1 of Procedure Data Tables Base Maps	Field-check Procedure Verify / update map Collect Data	Update Class data board + project web page
Mon, Sept 24	Draft 1 of Background	(Not an inquiry work day)
Thurs, Oct 4	Updated Procedure Finalized Maps	Collect Data Field-check Procedure	Update Class data board + project web page
Mon, Oct 8	Final Background Final Procedure	Q1 Group Update Presentation (see below)

Note: The Satellite Lab is reserved for the second half of class. Once you have finished collecting data and cleaning up, please work on your display board (see comments below), update your web page and prepare for Monday’s presentation.

Q1 Group Update Presentation
3 minutes, 3 images & data presentation

What is each group doing? You have been working on your projects for a few months so share with the rest of the class the status of your project. Your task is to create a three (3) minute presentation that gives us your question, your general procedure (we don't need each step) and the data you have collected so far.

Ideally, your presentation is run from your web page. You need to have three images (no more / no less) and a visual that shows your data.

Board Update
Dust -

• Please update your sampling map to show where samples are taken
• Visuals are great! Please provide a graph(s) of your data.

Raindrops

• Please provide your location and sample maps.
• Visuals are great! Please provide a graph(s) of your data.

Owls

• Your question is provided on your board but it is hard to find. Make it POP!
• Please update your location map. Where is north?
• Please provide a map that shows exactly where samples are taken.
• Visuals are great! Please provide a graph(s) of your data.

Pond

• Please provide your location and sample maps.
• Visuals are great! Please provide a graph(s) of your data.

Other groups - where are you?

Inquiry Day

Inquiry Dates past, present & future:

Date	Due	In-class	After class
Mon, August 27	Question Web Page framework “About Me” section	Background Assignment Procedure Map
Fri, Sept 14	Draft 1 of Procedure Data Tables Base Maps	Field-check Procedure Verify / update map Collect Data	Update Class data board + project web page
Mon, Sept 24	Draft 1 of Background	(Not an inquiry work day)

Criteria

Density Columns

By the end of class, I should be able to:

• Reflect on the experience I had constructing a density column.
• Make a claim, provide evidence and explain my reasoning regarding a topic. (Note: we will use this Claim-Evidence-Reasoning structure throughout the year.)
• Describe what happens to the density of an object if the mass changes but the volume does not.
• Describe what happens to the density of an object if the volume changes but the mass does not.

Language Goals:

• Write a paragraph to describe the process of creating my density column.
• Be specific in my writing when providing evidence.
• Elaborate my thoughts when providing reasoning.

September Process Words

• Investigate
• Produce
• Demonstrate (7th)
• Emphasize (7th)
• Judge (8th)
• Weigh (8th)

Set-Up: Please position your density column in a safe place on your table. You will sketch the column and reflect on the process of creating it. (~30 min)

Hand-out: Density Column Sketch

Experimentation: Water and Aluminum Foil - Using equal sizes of aluminum foil, can you suspend it in three different locations?

Friday: Inquiry Day - (Current Project Schedule)
Past Due:

• Question
• Web Page framework
• “About Me” section

Due on Friday:

• Draft 1 of Procedure
• Data Tables
• Base Maps

What we will do on Friday:

• Field-check Procedure
• Verify / update map
• Collect Data
• Update Web pages + outside board (by Tuesday)

Groups with web pages:

• Dust - please expand the About Me section
• Soiltologists- please include the About Me section. Several sections are still the Wix template page. Please update.
• The Owl Observers
• The Pond
• The Raindrops

For Tuesday

• Please read about Chemical/Physical Change on pages 44-48 (Matter & Energy)
• Please complete the Study/Reading Guide pages 9-10

Questions to consider:

• What is the difference between a physical and chemical property?
• Can you provide examples of a physical property? a chemical property?
• What is the difference between a physical and chemical change?

Can you provide examples of a physical change? a chemical change?

Inquiry Project Overview

Today, we went over expectations and criteria for the year-long project. Afterwards, I met with each group as groups worked on maps and procedures.

Key Documents:

• Expectations
• Criteria

Please talk to me if you have any questions.

Final Questions

Today, your group should arrive in class with an inquiry question or a strong idea of what your group plans to investigate this year. Please retrieve the whiteboard you used last class and set it up as below:


We will meet at the desks for each group to present their question. The group will provide the question, the change and the response. Then, each other group must provide one question or thought regarding the proposed inquiry project.

Question Planning Sheet

A space will be created on the outside wall that will become your area to report progress on the project. Each group also needs to create a web page for the project. Current requirements for web page:

• Question
• Independent (manipulated) and Dependent (Responding) variables clearly identified
• “About Us” section that gives a bit of background on each person in the group (please only use first names) and why you are interested in your group’s question.
• A location that allows people to post comments and questions.
• Anything else you want to add to your page at this time.

AST Inquiry

By now everyone should be slowly remembering life as a student. A variety of activities are lined up for today beginning with the introduction of our class Read Aloud. By reading The City of Ember, I hope to give us a place to talk about energy, conservation and sustainability.

During class activities:

• Book check-out & Material List
• Walking AST and listing "things" you wonder about.
• What makes a good scientific question?
• Creating an AST-based inquiry question.

Today's Key question: What makes a good scientific question?

I. Brainstorms
What do people ask questions for?

To get information	Find an answer	Support guesses
Curious	Not sure about something	Want to know something and want to be right
To make sense of something (clarify)	To know more about a topic	Interested
To find knowledge without sorting through lots of information	Learn about the environment	relationships

What types of questions are there?

• Why - a reason
• How - a process
• Yes / No - to be sure
• If...., then what will happen (relationship / prediction)
• Where
• When
• What
• Who

What does our question need?

• Time to answer
• A connection over time
• to be testable -
• we have the materials
• it must take place at AST
• I must be able to collect data
• Narrowed down to variables I can investigate

Group Questions
   - How is bug blood different from human blood?
    - Why do your fingers wrinkle after you take a bath?
    - Is rock music better than hip-hop music?
    - Why does bright light cause some people to sneeze?
    - Do smells affect people’s moods?
    - Is vegetarianism better than eating meat?

Task:

1. Decide whether your question can be answered through a scientific investigation.
2. Come up with two testable questions that relate to the problem described in the question.

Whiteboard Presentation - we will continue with this next class

1. Please make sure your original question is posted.
2. Show why you think your question can/cannot be answered through a scientific investigation.
3. Provide the two testable questions and describe what the purpose