Owl Pellet Investigation CHECKLIST
Your TaskS:(Check them off as you complete them!)
Remove all bones from pellet.
Identify types of bones and tally them up on Data Table 1.
Identify prey animal(s) and record in Data Table 2.
Glue bones to prey skeleton outline. Label.
Collect data from entire class, fill in Data Tables 3, 4, and 5. Perform necessary calculations.
Analyze Data: Make graphs and answer analysis questions.
Write lab report.
Communicate your results! Your choice: Poster or Powerpoint.
Timeline:
Tues 12/04 – Introduction and overview. Receive pellet; begin dissection.
Wed 12/05 – Background material. Continue dissection.
Thurs 12/06 – Quiz on cycles, then continue dissection.
Fri 12/07 – Continue dissection.
Mon 12/10 – By the end of class today, you should have all bones removed from your pellet!
Tues 12/11 - By end of class today, you should have identified all your bones and your prey animal!Work on skeleton. Share data.
Wed 12/12 – Analyzing data and graphing.
Thurs 12/13 – Review: Energy in Ecosystems.
Fri 12/14 – Writing the lab report: introduction.
Mon 12/17 – Writing the lab report: Answering the questions & writing the conclusion.
Tues 12/18 – Lab report should be done/work on final product (poster or powerpoint) in class
Wed 12/19 – Work on final product in class
DUE DATE: Thursday, Dec. 20th !
Analysis Questions: As always, answers should be written in complete sentences that restate the questions. Answers should be supported with data and evidence!
1. How do scientists use owl pellets to learn more about barn owls and their habitat?
2. How many individual prey animals were contained in your pellet? Refer to your data to support your answer.
3. Compare the average number of prey animals contained per pellet in your period with the average for the entire class (all periods).
4. Based on our data, would there be more owls or more prey animals? Explain why this is so in terms of energy flow through ecosystems.
5. If a Barn Owl produces one pellet per day, how many prey animals does it consume in a week?
(Use only your period’s data.)
6. If a Barn Owl produces one pellet per day, how many prey animals does it consume in a year? (Use your period’s data.)
7. Which prey species was most common in the pellets of the entire class (all periods)?
8. What can we infer about the diet and habitat of the specific owls from which we obtained our pellets?
LAB REPORT CONCLUSIONS
Restate the purpose.
Restate your hypothesis; explain your reasoning.
State whether hypothesis was refuted or supported, referring to, but not just listing, your actual data and observations.
Discuss sources of experimental error and any improvements that could be made to the experiment or ideas for possible new experiments and/or further study.
Write a closing statement that summarizes briefly the results of this investigation.
Personal Reflections (OPTIONAL!)
Remember, the writing style of a lab report is formal, objective, and scientific – not casual, opinionated, or creative. However, if you really want to include personal information, such as how much fun the lab was or if you liked it or hated it or whatever, add that in this final, optional section. In this particular lab, you may also want to add a creative writing piece about barn owls.
DUE DATE: Thursday, Dec.20th !
POSTERGUIDELINES
- Use plain, flat ordinary posterboard, NOT foam core or a trifold display board.
- Include an interesting and attractive title.
- Put your name in the upper left-hand corner & your period# & science code in the upper right-hand corner.
- Attach your Reassembled Prey Skeleton, glued to a piece of construction paper, and correctly identified & labeled with the name of the prey animal.
- Attach all five data tables, completely, neatly, and accurately filled in with pencil.(They should not have calculations scribbled in the margin. Use scratch paper!)
- TwoBar Graphs (of Data Tables 3 and 4).May be hand-made or computer-generated. Handmade: use a ruler, color in the bars, use equal intervals, title the graphs, label both axes, etc.
Computer-generated: make sure data correct, label both axes, title the graph, etc.
- Lab Report -- You may attach the different parts to your poster (in logical order), or you may staple your report together and attach it to the poster . (See samples on Schoolwires.)
- Introduction - one paragraph long, include purpose of investigation, background information about the barn owl, including 3 adaptations, what an owl pellet is and how it is formed. You should include your hypothesis, but you do not need to identify variables because this isn’t a controlled experiment; it’s an investigation.
- Materials and (brief) Procedure (numbered steps; don’t include clean up)
- Data Tables and graphs are part of the lab report, but maybe attached to the poster separately or stapled in with the lab report.
- Answers to Analysis Questions (on last page)
- Conclusion (follow lab report format guidelines.)
(See rubric also.)
POwerpoint
1. Minimum 9 slides in your powerpoint presentaton, as follows:
2. Slide 1: Interesting and attractive title slide. The title slide should include your title, plus your full name, period number, and science code.
3. Slide 2: Introduction - you should not include the actual printed words on this slide. Just include pictures and record yourself reading your introduction. (Intro. should be a paragraph long; include purpose of investigation, background information about the barn owl, including 3 adaptations, what an owl pellet is and how it is formed. You don’t have to identify variables because this isn’t a controlled experiment; it’s an investigation!)
5. Slide 3: Procedure we followed -- again, do not include lots of words on the slide. Use pictures to illustrate the procedure, but record your own narration explaining what we did. (We usually write it step by step like a recipe, but for this you should describe it in narrative form, first person, past tense. e.g., “First we broke the pellet into two pieces.”)
6. Slide 4: Photo of your reassembled prey skeleton, correctly identified & labeled with the name of the prey animal. Record narration explaining how you know it is this animal.
7. Slide 5: Picture of what your prey animal looks like with its skin and fur still on.
8. Slide 6: All data tables, neatly and completely filled in. (You may scan your completed tables or download the document from SchoolWires, fill it in on the computer, and insert it into your powerpoint.)
9. Slide 7: Bar graphs for Table 3:Types of Prey Animals found in Owl Pellets – Class Results (May be computer-generated or hand-drawn and scanned. )
10. Slide 8: Bar graph for Table 4: Number of Prey Animals per Pellet – Class Results(May be computer-generated or hand-drawn and scanned.)
11. Slide 9:Analysis/Conclusion – It should have an interesting and appropriate picture plus a recorded narration of yourself reading the answers to your analysisquestions and your conclusion.
(See rubric also.)
TO SUBMIT:
Share the completed powerpoint with me on Google Drive.
OR
Bring it to class saved on a Flashdrive labeled with your name and science period.
You also need to hand in your rubric with your name, period, and science code filled in!
Name: ______Period : ______Science code: ______
Owl Pellet Project Grading Rubric: POSTER
Points / Soaring!! (10) / Fledgling (9) / Nestling (8) / Hatchling (7) / Egg (6)Completeness / All required parts PLUS an additional feature. (Suggestions: a personal reflection, an original poem or drawing, food web, fun facts, etc) / All required parts of the project are included. / Most required parts of the project are included. / Some required parts of the project are included. / Few required parts of the project are included.
Timeliness / Handed inon time. / One day late / Two days late / Three days late / Four or more days late
Writing Style of lab report / Formal, objective, impersonal, & scientific. / Usually formal, but there are one or two minor lapses. / Usually formal, but there are a few lapses. / Several instances where not formal, objective, etc. / Casual, opinionated, personal, and not scientific.
Mechanics / No errors in sentence structure, grammar, or spelling / 1 or 2 errors in sentence structure, grammar, or spelling / A few errors in sentence structure, grammar, or spelling / Several errors in sentence structure, grammar, spelling / Many errors in sentence structure, grammar, or spelling
Introduction / Includes: components described in fledgling column AND something extra! / Includes: purpose, background info, 3 adaptations of barn owl, what an owl pellet is and how it is formed / Missing one of the required components as described in Fledgling column. / Missing two of the required components as described in Fledgling column. / Missing three or more of the required components as described in Fledgling column.
Data Tables (5) / All data is filled in correctly and EXTREMELY neatly in pencil. All calculations are correct. / All data is filled in correctly and neatly in pencil. All calculations are correct. / All data is filled in correctly and neatly in pencil. A few minor calculation errors. / Most data is filled in with a pencil, but not neatly and/or some errors in calculations. / Very incomplete and/or very inaccurate. May be very messy or not in pencil.
Graphs (2) / In pencil, with a ruler; accurately labeled, titled, and no errors.
EXTREMELY neat!! / Neatly done in pencil, with a ruler; accurately labeled, titled, and no errors. / Graphs are for the most part very well done; minor errors are present. / Graphs are pretty good. Several errors present and/or they are a bit messy. / Graphs are very messy and/or do not follow the guidelines.
Analysis Questions / Fledgling requirements, but in paragraph form, with transitions added along with additional information. / All questions answered thoroughly and correctly & can be understood w/o knowing questions. / Most questions are restated and answered correctly, but not quite thoroughly. / Restated. Some facts and answers are incorrect or not supported with data & observations. / Many errors and/or questions are not restated.
Prey Skeleton / All bones are present & in proper position; labeled neatly with prey’s scientific & common name. / Almost all bones are present & in proper position; labeled neatly with prey’s common name. / Most bones are present & in proper positions; labeled neatly with prey’s common name. / Some bones are present & in proper position; labeled neatly with prey’s common name. / Few bones are present & in proper position and/or not labeled or not labeled correctly.
Presentation / Student has gone above and beyond requirements to make the poster especially attractive. / Care and effort are apparent. Neat and organized. Text is easy to read. Poster is visually appealing. / Some improvement could be made to presentation. For-mat is followed. Text easy to read. / Much improvement is needed. Format not followed very consistently. Text is not easy to read. / Not much care or effort shown. Poster is messy or disorganized and/or format not followed; difficult to read text or in pencil.
Details / Rubric attached; full name, period #, & sci. # written on front. / Missing one of the items specified in Soaring. / Missing 2 of the items specified in Soaring. / Missing three of the items specified in Soaring / Missing more than three of the items specified in Soaring.
Total pts, grade, & comments
Name: ______Period : ______Science code: ______
Owl Pellet Project Grading Rubric: POwerpoint
Points / Soaring!! (10) / Fledgling (9) / Nestling (8) / Hatchling (7) / Egg (6)Completeness / All 9 required slides PLUS an additional one with something extra, such as an original poem or drawing, food web, fun facts, etc)
Rubric handed in. / All 9 required slides of the project are included. Rubric handed in. / Missing onerequired slide OR rubric not handed in. / Missing 2 required slides or missing one slide and rubric not handed in. / Missing 3 or more required slides or missing 2 slides and rubric not handed in.
Timeliness / Submitted on time / Submitted one day late. / Two days late / Three days late / Four days late or not in shared folder.
Introduction / Includes: components described in fledgling column AND includes an especially and has extra-nice picture(s). / Includes: purpose, background info, 3 adaptations of barn owl, what an owl pellet is and how it is formed . / Missing one of the required components as described in Fledgling column. / Missing two of the required components as described in Fledgling column. / Missing three or more of the required components as described in Fledgling column.
Data Tables (4)
NOTE: can be done on computer / All data is filled in correctly and EXTREMELY neatly in pencil. All calculations are correct. / All data is filled in correctly and neatly in pencil. All calculations are correct. / All data is filled in correctly and neatly in pencil. A few minor calculation errors. / Most data is filled in with a pencil, but not neatly and/or some errors in calculations. / Very incomplete and/or very inaccurate. May be very messy or not in pencil.
Graphs (2)
Note: Can be computer-generated or hand-drawn and scanned. / Al graphing guidelines followed: accurately labeled, titled, and no errors. EXTREMELY neat and easy to read!! / All graphing guidelines followed: accurately labeled, titled, and no errors. / Graphs are for the most part very well done; minor errors are present. / Graphs are pretty good. Several errors present and/or they are a bit messy. / Graphs are very messy and/or do not follow the guidelines.
Questions/Conclu-ion / Extra sentences and transitional phrases included to make it smoother, along with additional information. / Answers to questions can be understood without knowing the questions: all correct & thorough. / Most questions are restated and answered correctly, but not quite thoroughly. / Restated; some facts and answers are incorrect or not supported with data & observations. / Many errors and/or questions are not restated.
Prey Skeleton
(photo in powerpoint; not actually turned in) / All bones are present & in proper position; labeled neatly with prey’s scientific & common name. / Almost all bones are present & in proper position; labeled neatly with prey’s common name. / Most bones are present & in proper positions; labeled neatly with prey’s common name. / Some bones are present & in proper position; labeled neatly with prey’s common name. / Few bones are present & in proper position and/or not labeled or not labeled correctly.
Visuals / Student has gone above and beyond fledgling requirements to make the Powerpoint especially interesting and entertaining. / Care and effort are apparent. Attractive and uses some animation but not too much. Powerpoint is visually appealing. / Some improvement could be made to presentation. For-mat is followed. / Much improvement is needed. Format not followed very consistently. Too many words on slides! / Not much care or effort shown. Powerpoint is disorganized and/or format not followed; difficult tounderstand.
Audio / Excellent enunciation volume, expression, and pronunciation; no ums, uhs, or similar words. / Great enunciation volume, expression, and pronunciation; no ums, uhs, or similar words. / Good enunciation volume, expression, and pronunciation. / Fair enunciation volume, expression, and pronunciation. / Poor enunciation volume, expression, and pronunciation.
Total pts, grade, & comments
DATA TABLES
Table 2: Summary of Individual Owl Pellet Contents
Prey animal found / Number of each / Non-prey items found (if any)Table 3: Types of Prey Animals found in Owl Pellets – Class Results (Period: ______)
Animal / Vole / Pocket Gopher / Mouse / Shrew / Rat / Bird / Mole / Total# found
Percent / 100%
Percent = (# found)/(Total number of animals) x 100%
Table 4: Number of Prey Animals per Pellet – Class Results (Period: ______)
Prey Animals per pellet / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / ≥7 / Total # of pellets in class / Total # prey animals in class#students w/ea amt. of prey animal
Percent / 100%
Percent = (Number of students with each amount of pellets) /(Total number of pellets)
Table 5: Entire Class Statistics
Average number of preyanimals per pellet(mean) / Number of prey animals contained by most pellets (mode) / Lowest to highest number of prey animals in one pellet (range)
Average number of prey animals per pellet = Total Number of prey animals in class
Total Number of pellets in class