- Help pupils to carry out useful preliminary work to consider whether a study will yield useful data,
eg by identifying common species of plant found on the field, testing different areas to see if moisture levels are different. Consider other factors that might contribute to the effect, but which cannot be controlled,
eg aspect, light levels, inclination, pH of soil, and how to deal with them,
eg by noting other factors at each site.
- Ask pupils to collect data, making other observations where appropriate,
eg differences in same species growing in different areas, to record information appropriately,
eg in tables, and to identify and describe patterns in the data related to moisture, including qualitative observations.
- Help pupils to look critically at results to decide how strongly they show a trend, particularly in relation to sample size and the number of other factors that might affect the variety and abundance of plants on the school field.
- Ask pupils to interpret results in the light of their scientific knowledge,
eg that competition for resources can affect the size of populations.
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- suggest an approach which will allow them to collect enough data, in the time available, to consider the effect of moisture levels on the variety and abundance of plants on the school field
- identify other factors which might affect the variety and abundance of plants and say whether they were able to take these into account
- make relevant observations when collecting data
- record data clearly
- identify how strongly the results show a trend, making particular reference to sample size and effect of other factors
- interpret results using knowledge about competition for resources
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