• Question: what suggestions have you got for the experiments my teacher can do for my class?

    Asked by shannonxo to Christine, Edd, Jess, Nicolas, Zara on 13 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Jessica Chu

      Jessica Chu answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Hi Shannonxo,

      What year is your class? I might be able to suggest something if I know which year you guys are in?

    • Photo: Edward Codling

      Edward Codling answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      A very simple experiment to do is similar to some of the things I do. Often we are interested in how many animals live in a particular area. If you construct some simple square frames (e.g. from 1m rulers) you can then go and sample different areas of the school field. Find out how many different plants or animals you can spot in your square and compare to what other people find. Do different habitats give different results? (For example compare what you find close to a hedge with what you find near the playground)

      If you can’t do this in your school field then you could try and area of waste ground or a park.

      This observational experiment is actually very similar to what a lot of scientists do in their everyday research – you would be doing science as well!

    • Photo: Christine Switzer

      Christine Switzer answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Shannonxo, what subjects are you studying at the moment?

    • Photo: Nicolas Biber

      Nicolas Biber answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      I think it would be great to get some small animals outside and make an artificial environment for them to stay in the classroom for a while. You could observe what they are doing, see what they eat, make them race each other 🙂 … Of course you would have to make sure that the animals are kept in an environment they really like.

    • Photo: Zara Gladman

      Zara Gladman answered on 13 Jun 2011:

      Here’s a fun (and very quick!) experiment you could do in class, or at home: make your own rocket! It isn’t ecology, more like chemistry since it involves gases! You will need:

      – an old film cannister (looks like this )

      – water (available from any good tap!)

      – half of an alka selzter tablet, or any other fizzy tablet (ask mum and dad or your teacher to give you one)

      Here’s what to do:
      1. Fill the empty film cannister with water so it’s about 3/4 full
      2. Drop in the half piece of alka-seltzer and quickly put on the lid so it’s on tight
      3. Point the cannister away from you (make sure there’s nobody in the way!!!)
      4. See what happens!

      If you try it, please let me know how it went 😉 It can make a bit of mess so is probably best done outside!

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