Powers of Observation

NS 1021: Introduction to Biology: Organisms and the Environment

Powers of Observation

INTRODUCTION:

The process of science begins with careful observation. In order to ask testable questions and design experiments, the scientist must first observe the subject of interest. Many questions can be answered with careful observation, without the need for other experimentation.

Objectives

To practice careful observation
To practice clear description writing

Materials

Hand lens
Millimeter ruler
Labeled specimens of organisms

Procedure

Located around the room are sets of organisms, or parts of organisms. Each set contains three or four specimens. Each set is labeled with a number. Each specimen is labeled with a letter.
Work in teams of two. Each team will begin with a different set of specimens. You will have approximately ten minutes to observe the set. Observe the four (or three) specimens and make notes of the differences you see among them. If appropriate take measurements.
**** THE DIFFERENCES MUST BE IN THE SPECIMENS; NOT IN THE CONTAINERS.
Choose one of the specimens, and on a piece of paper write as complete a description as possible of the specimen. Do not use the specimen's letter in your description. Leave the description with the set.
When all the teams are done writing their descriptions, each team will rotate to another set of specimens. Observe all of the specimens in the set. Read the description and try to determine which specimen it is describing. Make note of your decision without revealing it to the other teams.
Repeat Step # 4 with the remaining sets of organisms.

Questions:

Which was easier, writing a clear description or selecting the specimen another team had described? Why?
Which characteristics proved most or least helpful in identifying the specimens from their descriptions?
For each description, what information could be added to make it clearer? Does everyone in the class agree on what information could be added? Why or why not?
For each description, what information could be removed and still leave the description clear? Does everyone agree on what information to remove? Why or why not?
Was there a set of specimens you would like to have described? Why?
In what ways did reporting and verifying observations in this investigation increase your knowledge of these organisms?