Grades 4-6
Cincinnati Nature Center
Inquiry in the Forest
GOAL: To plan and conduct a student-designed investigation within the forest habitat.
Small Group Procedures
Concept: Comparative questions are the basis for strong investigations.
1) Explore and observe the forest habitat.
3) Develop a testable comparative question based
on the interests of the group.
2) Ask questions and make observations about the
forest and its many organisms/aspects.
4) Discuss the comparative question and create a
hypothesis.
Concept: Hands-on investigations increase our knowledge of the world around us.
5) Develop and conduct an investigation based on
the group’s comparative question.
7) Review observations and data with the group in
order to develop a conclusion.
6) Collect data relating to the experiment using
simple tools and procedures.
8) Evaluate the methods of data collection used
during the experiment and discuss possible
improvements for any future investigations.
This is not an all-inclusive list of activities for this lesson. Each field trip will vary slightly based on time
available, weather, grade level, background knowledge of students, areas classroom teachers would like to
focus, and interest levels of the students.
Vocabulary
COMPARATIVE QUESTION - A question that intends to compare two or more entities, explicitly stated in the
question. In our case, this question will compare two or more aspects of the environment. (E.g. Will more ants
be found under rocks or dead logs? Do birds prefer sunflower seed or peanuts?)
CONCLUSION - The result or outcome of an act or process.
DATA - Information collected through research, experiments, and observations.
HYPOTHESIS - A tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts and can be tested by further
investigation. The term “prediction” may also be used to further student understanding, even though these
two terms are not interchangeable at a more advanced level.
VARIABLE - any factor that can be controlled, changed, or measured in an experiment
*Content for this lesson will vary between each field trip depending on the interests of the
students. Teachers interested in focusing this lesson on a particular topic (e.g. insects, birds,
plants) to meet their curriculum goals and standards may contact Melissa Sabo at
[email protected] to discuss options.
Grades 4-6
Cincinnati Nature Center
Ohio Revised Science Standards
While specific grade level standards are not guaranteed to be addressed with this lesson, the
following processes are emphasized:
During the years of PreK to grade 4, all students must develop the ability to:
• Observe and ask questions about the natural environment;
• Plan and conduct simple investigations;
• Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses;
• Use appropriate mathematics with data to construct reasonable explanations;
• Communicate about observations, investigations and explanations; and
• Review and ask questions about the observations and explanations of others.
During the years of grades 5 through 8, all students must have developed the ability to:
• Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigations;
• Design and conduct a scientific investigation;
• Use appropriate mathematics, tools and techniques to gather data and information;
• Analyze and interpret data;
• Develop descriptions, models, explanations and predictions;
• Think critically and logically to connect evidence and explanations;
• Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predications; and
• Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.