Name _________________________________ Date ____________________________
1. Make a list here of questions that you would be interested in investigating using Decay and Renewal protocols.
Example: Does moisture level affect the rate of biodegradation in compost?
2. Of these questions, which seem the most important and interesting? Pick three:
1.
2.
3.
3. For each of the three questions you have chosen, think of how you might design an experiment. Then fill out Table 1:
Potential Questions
|
Brief description
of an experiment you might do to address this question |
What equipment and
supplies would you need? |
How long would it
take to carry out this project? |
Would field work or
travel to field sites be required? |
Example: Does moisture level
affect the rate of biodegradation in compost? |
Build 3 bioreactors
and fill them with the same ingredients except for the amount of water. |
Soda bottles and
other bioreactor supplies, grass clippings, and wood shavings |
1 period to build
the bioreactors, 2 weeks for composting, then 1 period to analyze results and
clean up. |
No, we can bring in
grass clippings from home and get other supplies at school. |
Question 1: |
|
|
|
|
Question 2: |
|
|
|
|
Question 3: |
|
|
|
|
4. Looking over Table
1, consider whether each project would be feasible for you to carry out. Are the equipment and supplies
available? Do you have enough time? Will you be able to do whatever fieldwork is
needed? Eliminate any questions that do
not seem feasible based on logistics such as these.
|
Would this project
be feasible? |
Why or why not? |
Example Project |
Yes No |
Uses supplies we
have available and grass clippings we will bring in from home. |
Project 1 |
Yes No |
|
Project 2 |
Yes No |
|
Project 3 |
Yes No |
|
5. Choose a project
you have decided is feasible and interesting, then
continue on to the Interactive Research
Planning Form #1 or #2.