Getting started!

          Two weeks ago we started the in-class vernal pool experiment. We had enough vernal pool soil (thanks to Jamie Kneitel) to  simulate 6 mini vernal pools. My goal was to let the kids choose two treatment groups so we could have 3 replicates of each treatment. Before letting the kids choose the treatments for their experiment, I talked to them about the importance of replication in scientific studies. I started by describing a simplified version of my husband's experiment - he is studying the effects of tadpoles (Pseudacris regilla) on vernal pool communities, and I asked them to think about a few possible reasons why a scientist would want/need to compare pools with tadpoles with pools without tadpoles. The reasons for having controls in scientific experiments seemed to be pretty clear to most kids. I then proceeded by asking them why we would want/need more than one pool with each treatment. The reasons for having replication in a scientific study weren't that obvious to the kids, so we spent some time talking about the importance of replication.

         After this discussion, I told the kids that our only independent variable in this experiment would be the amount of water, and I let them choose two treatments. Group 1 chose to simulate a heavy rain event, and filled up their 3 containers; while group two decided to simulate lighter, more frequent rain events - they have been adding a cup of water three times a weeks. Below are some pictures of the kids setting up their microcosms.

After we were done setting up the experiment, Lorie came into the classroom to talk to the kids about writing a book. As I have mentioned in my first post, we will be working on a children's book about vernal pools during the 3 months that I am working with the third and fourth graders. Lorie had a discussion with the kids about possible roles that they could have during this process. Although the kids will be working together on this project, we have some kids focusing on different roles: story telling, illustration, fun facts, scientific facts, and editing.

Last Friday, the kids started working on their field guides to Jeposon prairie vernal pools. My goal is to have each kid create their own field guide before we have our field trip to Jepson prairie so that they can use their own work to identify some of the species during their visits to the vernal pools. The kids worked on crustaceans ( clam shrimp, copepods, fairy shrimp, seed shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and water flea), and amphibians ( Pacific chorus frog, and California tiger salamander) last week. They did an excellent job drawing the species and summarizing fun facts about them.