“How much life is in one cubic foot?” This was the question I posed to my science students last week in cooperation with the biocube project, an initiative spearheaded by the Smithsonian. Basically, the project is placing a small framework in the shape of a cube somewhere in nature and observing all the life that happens within that cube. Students go out for a period of time and use tools such as magnifying glasses and microscopes to observe the plants and soil found within the cube and any insects that might be there. After learning how to use scientific tools and collect specimens, my fifth grade students traveled across town to a wooded area owned by the school district. They spent a little over an hour studying the life in and around their cube, taking notes, photos, and collecting specimens. We had a great time studying a variety of spiders and identifying several different kinds of leaves! If you are interested in pursuing the project yourself, check out the following link: https://qrius.si.edu/biocube This is a part of STEM@Schall's Real World Expansion Pack - Go Outside.
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AuthorThe STEM Sisters are Elementary Teachers working together on STEM related topics and projects. Archives
January 2020
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