Last Step on the Biodiversity Project Pathway
After all you have investigated, researched, engineered, and accomplished, you know much more about biodiversity now than when you first observed the phenomenon. Re-read your Initial Explanation of the video (on the Observe page of your Portfolio) and your Claim with evidence about the biodiversity of the area you investigated (on the Reason page). Revise your claim, if necessary. Compare your data to that expected for a diverse area, according to index standards (linked on the Reason page of this web site). Revise your explanation in the following format:
Revised Explanation (Claim / Evidence / Reasoning)
My claim about the biodiversity of (identify the garden or school yard) is ___________________________________. The evidence for this claim is _____________________________________________________ (don't just list your data here - explain how your data compares to the data you would expect for a diverse area, one factor at a time, citing the scoring system to which you compared your data). Other evidence that supports my claim is ___________________________ (describe any evidence other than your biodiversity test data). Despite ______________________, __________________ (acknowledge and account for any evidence that conflicts with or tempers your claim). Although ____________________, _____________________ (anticipate and refute possible misconceptions or misinterpretations of your evidence). Therefore ______________________________ (use reasoning to make an overall comparison of your evidence (the total biodiversity index score) compared to the scientific standard (the ideal biodiversity score). Cite the scientific principle (or the scoring system you used) and identify any caveats (any critically important evidence that overides the total biodiversity score).
What's Next?
You made a difference with your biodiversity project! And there is much more you can do to make the earth a better place. Why not tackle another water quality project with your class? Keep testing and monitoring your stream every month? Or return to the GREAT Project Pathways Home Page and find another problem to tackle?
Even if your class is moving on to other subjects, you can draw on your creativity, resourcefulness and energy to take action individually or with a few friends. This Handprinter app will help you compare the impact of different things you could do.
