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ParkWise
> Teachers >
Nature > Fly
Away! > Unit Outline
Activity
9:
Which Way Do We Go?
Students
use real radiotracking data to follow the golden eagles on their
migratory journey and answer research questions.
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Unit:
Fly Away
Guiding Questions: How
do researchers study migration patterns? What can we learn
from radiotracking golden eagles?
Critical Content: How
researchers use radiotracking data to answer a series of questions
about migration patterns of golden eagles.
Grades:
4-6
Duration: Two 45-minute
periods
Group size: 2-3
students per data set
Setting: classroom
Materials: Migration
Data set coordinate text files and blank map for plotting,
Which Way
Do We Go? Worksheet, pencils,
rulers, colored
pens
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Before
You Begin:
- Print out and copy the data sets text files, one file for each
small group.
- Print out and copy the blank map for plotting, one copy for
each small group.
- Print out a copy of the maps
for each fledgling (or All Fledglings) as a check to see if the
students have mapped the data correctly.
- Print out a copy of the Which
Way Do We Go? Worksheet for each student.
Procedures:
- Review latitude, longitude coordinates and mapping.
- Assign each student a fledgling number. Hand out a copy of the
Coordinates
in text format for that fledgling, and the blank map for plotting.
- Have students map out the migration route for their fledgling
using the data set. They do not need to label the points, but
they should connect the points to show the route.
- If some students do not finish in one class period they should
finish for homework, ready to discuss and compare their results
with others.
- When completed, students can compare their maps with those of
other students with the same fledgling.
- Then the students can be rearranged so that they are in groups
with each fledgling represented once and they can answer the worksheet
questions together by comparing all the maps. Alternatively, you
can display their maps on the board for all students to use together.
Discussion Questions: review
the students answers to the worksheet questions as a class.
Adaptation: Print out the maps
for younger students and have them answer the questions on the worksheet.
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