Then they develop a hypothesis about the quality of the water sample they will acquire from a source near their homes. Next, they decide what procedure or methodology to use to carefully analyze the quality of the water so as to ensure accurate findings. After the water has been tested and the data has been recorded on the data collection sheet ,the students conduct an analysis of data and accept or reject their hypothesis. Finally, students summarize their experience, draw a conclusion as to what the quality of the water sample means in regards to its source, and generalize or apply their findings to the environment as a whole. Each step of the process must be express in written form and edited until it is letter perfect, grammatically correct, and scientifically sound.
Students divide into cooperative learning teams to dissect the pellets.
The dissection must follow the scientific method. First, students will state their purpose in dissecting the pellet. Then they will hypothesize about what the owl ate prior to regurgitating the pellet they are about to dissect. Next, they will decide what procedure or methodology to use in carefully dissecting the pellet so as to ensure that they retrieve all skeletal remains in good condition. After the bones have been retrieved, they will be identified and catalogued.