Summer+Assignment

=Summer assignment=

Your task is to create a photographic record of How living things change over time.

1. Choose a place that will remain undisturbed for a period of time Ideas include: You can be creative, as long as you let nature take its course and you are documenting natural, outdoor environmental factors one might study for ecology.
 * a corner of a field
 * a patch in the garden
 * a corner of a house outside
 * a branch of tree, focusing on the growing end
 * a portion near the base of a tree where the roots are so no one will mow it
 * the process of decomposition of something. (You probably do not want to do this indoors as it may call ants and it may smell eventually!)
 * After a couple of years of experience, we’ve found whole apples and bananas are not the best choice. Pick something new!

2. Your selection will need to stay undisturbed for several weeks. If using a field, lawn, etc, you can cut the area back/mow a patch and then start your record from there. The same would apply to the base of the tree.

3. To be sure you get the same view each time and get the sequence right, choose a spot to place a number next to the area you are watching so this will show up in the same bottom corner of your picture each time. It should be large enough and dark enough to read.

4. Take 8-10 or more pictures. Don’t have a digital camera? Purchase a disposable camera. You should decide if more than 10 photos are needed and you decide how often you should make a record of your selected area. The suggested method would be data collection twice per week over a 5-week period, spaced apart maybe every 3-4 days. If your selection is something that may go through rapid change, it may be appropriate to take data more often. You can certainly extend the time if your subject changes slowly and only do it once a week as only as you end up with at least 8 pictures.

5. Choose angles for your photos that show the changes! You may want to take several angles--some close up and others farther away. Eight pictures that all look alike because you were not close enough to show detail will not show us much.

Product: You need to create a visual representation that can be posted in the room. Place prints on a small poster or some other visual presentation. Include a title that indicates what you were observing and put your name on it.

Due Date: second week of September. The projects will be posted in the room for a class gallery walk and activity.

Very important caution: Please describe this project to your family and others who need to know (i.e. if you have someone mowing your lawn). Your special area needs to be undisturbed. Or, if you’ve chosen decomposition, your decomposing item needs to not get thrown out. If you choose that method, think about how you will protect it from birds or other scavengers.

Questions? Email me at catie_wooten@yarmouth.k12.me.us