Question
Students will encounter surprising examples of animal adaptations, generate and refine comparative research questions about a local and non-local species, and develop a focused, investigable question with a clear hypothesis that will guide their week-long investigation.
Day 1
Design
Students will design a clear, systematic methodology to investigate their comparative animal adaptation question, ensuring their approach matches the question type, uses credible sources, and includes quality controls before beginning data collection.
Day 2
Collect
Students will systematically gather and document high-quality comparative adaptation data for their selected local and non-local species, following their approved methodology plans and recording conditions, anomalies, and source details to build a reliable evidence base for later analysis.
Day 3
Analyze
Students will interpret their comparative adaptation data by creating meaningful visualizations, identifying patterns and anomalies, and developing evidence-based preliminary findings that connect directly to their original research questions and hypotheses.
Day 4
15 min over capacity (45 min available across 1 day)
Conclude
Students will synthesize their comparative adaptation research by writing evidence-based conclusions, explicitly acknowledging limitations, generating new investigable questions, and presenting their full investigation to an authentic audience at the Eco-Exchange Fair and Survival Tales Story Hour.
Day 5