Science in My Backyard

In this lab report writing assignment, students will use the scientific method to solve a real life problem from their own lives. They see an example of such a real life problem – who/what is digging the holes in my backyard – through a power point presentation, and are then asked to come up with a research question at their own home, work, or school. Students use the scientific method to record observations, develop a hypothesis, and set up their experimental design, which they then actually carry out. After completion of their experiments, students write formal lab reports that are set up exactly like lab reports they will write during the rest of the semester. This is a great activity for non-science majors to walk through the scientific method at the beginning of a course without the intimidation of discipline-specific science content, to prepare them for conducting more advanced labs later in the course. Since implementing this activity into my Introduction to Oceanography course, I have seen great improvement in the quality of lab reports. An outline of the lesson plan, the ppt presentation that I use to set up the assignment, as well as student instructions and grading rubric are provided.