Using Plant Surveys to Study Biodiversity part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Paula Kalinosky Eastview High School Apple Valley, MN Based on an original activity from Bowling Green State University, "Joe's Jungle: Exploring Biodiversity". Online at http://www.ableweb.org/biologylabs/wp-content/uploads/volumes/vol-24/1-waggoner.pdf
This activity is a field investigation in which students conduct a plant survey of two study plots, analyze their findings through graphing and mathematic models, investigate the impact of human activity in the general area (optional) and generate questions for further investigation of the study plots.

Analyzing the motion of a marble down a ramp part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Gavin Johnson, Esko High School, Esko, MN, based on a experiment performed by Galileo
This lab activity has students rolling a marble down a ramp to study position, velocity, and acceleration.

Habitat Loss Game part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Thane Lewis - Minneota High School Minneota MN
This role playing game allows students to explore the issue of habitat loss and its effects on animal populations.

Investigating the Geologic History of Southeast Minnesota by Constructing a Geologic Column part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Amanda Ludeman
This activity is a field investigation where students gather data on rock types and geologic formations to construct a geologic column that will help them to interpret the geologic history of the Cannon Falls area.

Investigating Biodiversity in your schoolyard part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Todd Koenig Zimmerman High School 25900 4th Street West Zimmerman, MN 55398 Based on an original activity from Mike Link and the Audubon Center of the North Woods
In this field lab students will investigate the biodiversity around their school. Students will perform a biodiversity count using transect line. The students will develop multiple hypotheses relating to biodiversity and propose additional procedures for studying, collecting and testing these questions.

What's Mu? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Peter Myhrwold
This activity is a field investigation where students design an experiment to determine the coefficient of friction for two contacting surfaces.

Investigating Ecosystems: Determining Feeding Relationships among Organisms part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Anna Potvin, Pine City Secondary, Pine City, MN
This activity is a field investigation in which students identify organisms and their energy sources. Students collect data and create a food web that explains how the organisms in their ecosystem are related.

Macroinvertebrates and Indicators of Water Quality part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Kim Truchan, Winona Senior High based on the Macorinvertebrate Mayhem from Project Wet
This activity is a field investigation where students can go to a body of water and collect the macroinvertebrates there and identify them. Based on what they find, they can assess the water quality by determining the biotic index.

The Microenvironment Project: Featuring Phenology part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Sandy Bussian
A year long field study of a deciduous tree and its interdependence through phenology.

Using Benthic Marcoinvertebrates Captured by Rock Baskets to Determine Biodiversity in a River. part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Amanda Meyer
In this ecology investigation, students will build and place rock baskets to collect benthic macroinvertebrates in a local waterway. They will observe and identify their macroinvertebrates and use the data to determine the pollution tolerance index for various areas of a river.