There are an army of experiments the kids can do with sunflowers. They can look at differences in bee visitation on days with different temperature, see how bees are affected by shade (they don't like to fly in shade), measure the distance to the nearest parks for all the participating schools and see if the time to the first or last visit of bees is related to that distance by graphing the distance on the x-axis and the time to visit on the y-axis,......
Life sciences standard
Investigation and Experimentation
Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:
Classify objects (e.g., rocks, plants, leaves) in accordance with appropriate criteria.
Develop a testable question.
Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on a student-developed question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure.
Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation.
Identify a single independent variable in a scientific investigation and explain how this variable can be used to collect information to answer a question about the results of the experiment.
Select appropriate tools (e.g., thermometers, meter sticks, balances, and graduated cylinders) and make quantitative observations.
Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and labeled diagrams) and make inferences based on those data.
Draw conclusions from scientific evidence and indicate whether further information is needed to support a specific conclusion.
Write a report of an investigation that includes conducting tests, collecting data or examining evidence, and drawing conclusions.