|
|
|
|
|
Data Collection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GENERAL
Middle school students from across the eastern U.S. and Canada are welcome to participate in this project. There is no fee to participate.
Photographs are a very helpful, but not a vital part of our data. Therefore, film developing funds or the availability of a digital camera should be a consideration, or if you have a scanner, contact the Polaroid company to find out about their school projects and get a camera for free. But don't let the lack of this equipment stop you from participating. You can always write a description of what you see.
The project will run from September 21, 1999 through December 13, 1999, however, classes can be added throughout the autumn season.
MATERIALS
Camera, see above | Trees! Specifically one MAPLE tree |
Graphs | Journal/Log for each student |
Computer(s) and printer(s) | Internet access and email account(s) |
Classroom thermometer to record daily
high temperatures |
Spreadsheets (e-mailed from site) |
Newspaper, television, or Internet for data collection (sunrise and sunset) |
PROCESS
Students are divided into
groups of 4-6 students. Group (either small groups or whole
class) will adopt one MAPLE tree in the area of their school. Groups track
the changes in the colors on the trees. They use transparent
graph paper to make mathematical computations to analyze the
percentage of color change each week. They compare this
data with data collected on the weather and amount of daylight.
By comparing locally collected data with data from other schools,
students determine whether temperature, altitude, hours of sunlight,
or other factors are the most important indicators affecting
color change in trees.
General Schedule for Collaborative Data: SPECIAL NOTE: If you are just seeing this for the first time, please try to join and send us pictures of your local maple tree. We can still get started from this date until the leaves are off!!!
September 1, 2000 -
September 15, 2000 |
Registration Dates, submit school information. |
September 1, 2000 - September 15, 2000 | Preliminary lessons for Teachers. (see Teacher pages) |
September 18, 2000 - September 22, 2000 | Project begins! Organize groups, adopt-a-tree, preliminary hypothesis, spreadsheet ( see Steps area) |
September 25, 2000 -
December 1, 2000 |
Continue project with daily &
weekly data input, log and Submit data each Monday. |
December 4, 2000 - December 8, 2000 |
Submit final reports to site. |
Home Page |
Top of Page |