The time of day and the length of the meter stick making the shadow are kept constant in the investigation. Telecompute the information contained in your chart to the other schools with whom you are working on this investigation. The different groups in class, and schools in the investigation, can compare their results in chart and graphic form. Discuss why group results are similar. Include documentation of the student's work in this investigation in the student's portfolio.
Scientists work in a very methodical fashion.
Maintaining accurate records of observations and measurements is a key component in this systematic method. Every student should keep accurate chronological records, possibly in a scientific investigation journal or science lab book, of everything which they do in the investigation. These notes should be placed within the student's portfolio for assessment purposes. In addition to general journal notes, students should also be carefully recording observations of the meter stick's shadow and how it changes as the day progresses. These observations would probably be recorded in their science notebooks as verbal descriptions, drawings, and numbers.