Investi-gator (Northern Research Station) – Vol. 1 No. 1
Investi-gator is a sister publication to Natural Inquirer serving students in grades 4 or higher. The Northern Research Station Investi-gator includes research done by scientists in the Northern United States. Learn about leaf color change, how ozone affects tree growth, and soil activity in winter.
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Highlights
- 4 Articles
- 7 Activities
- Lesson Plan
- Glossary
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Leaves change color in the fall. Cooler temperatures in the fall cause the chlorophyll in leaves to break down. When chlorophyll, which is green, begins to break down in leaves,...Are You Red-dy to Change? Learning What Things Affect Leaf Color Change
Leaves change color in the fall. Cooler temperatures in the fall cause the chlorophyll in leaves to break down. When chlorophyll, which is green, begins to break down in leaves,... -
In recent years, humans have been burning more and more fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are oil, natural gas, and coal. One of the extra products created by burning fossil fuels...No Littering O-Zone: How Rising Ozone Levels Affect Tree Growth
In recent years, humans have been burning more and more fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are oil, natural gas, and coal. One of the extra products created by burning fossil fuels... -
Over the next 25 to 45 years, scientists think the Nation’s population will double. As the population increases, cities, suburbs, and towns use more and more land. In order to...Out of the Penalty Box: Protecting the Environment through Policies
Over the next 25 to 45 years, scientists think the Nation’s population will double. As the population increases, cities, suburbs, and towns use more and more land. In order to... -
Scientists believe that Earth’s climate is getting warmer. If the climate continues to get warmer, then there could be more cycles of freezing and thawing. The scientists wondered what would...Snowed In? A Closer Look at Soil Activity in the Wintertime
Scientists believe that Earth’s climate is getting warmer. If the climate continues to get warmer, then there could be more cycles of freezing and thawing. The scientists wondered what would...
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In this FACTivity, you will imagine what sugar maple trees in the northeastern United States might look like at four different times during the fall. Materials: Four sheets of plain...FACTivity – Are You Red-dy to Change?
In this FACTivity, you will imagine what sugar maple trees in the northeastern United States might look like at four different times during the fall. Materials: Four sheets of plain... -
The question you will explore in this FACTivity is: How does ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere impact Earth? Materials: Access to a library or internet for research Poster-making materialsFACTivity – No Littering O-Zone
The question you will explore in this FACTivity is: How does ozone in the troposphere and stratosphere impact Earth? Materials: Access to a library or internet for research Poster-making materials -
In pairs or in groups, you will identify five policies that exist in your school and analyze who they affect, how they are implemented, what their impacts are, and how...FACTivity – Out of the Penalty Box
In pairs or in groups, you will identify five policies that exist in your school and analyze who they affect, how they are implemented, what their impacts are, and how... -
In this FACTivity, students will investigate the soil in their school yard and some soil from home. Materials: At least 5 empty plastic bins 5 small hand trowels Magnifying lens...FACTivity – Snowed In?
In this FACTivity, students will investigate the soil in their school yard and some soil from home. Materials: At least 5 empty plastic bins 5 small hand trowels Magnifying lens... -
After reading the Investi-gator (Northern Research Station), test your knowledge with a crossword puzzle.Crossword – Investi-gator (Northern Research Station)
After reading the Investi-gator (Northern Research Station), test your knowledge with a crossword puzzle. -
Finished reading the Investi-gator (Northern Research Station)? See how much you learned by completing one or both of these word searches!Word Searches – Investi-gator (Northern Research Station)
Finished reading the Investi-gator (Northern Research Station)? See how much you learned by completing one or both of these word searches!
What Is an Investi-gator Journal?
An Investi-gator journal is a collection of 4-6 articles on a variety of science topics from a particular region of the United States. These journals are written for upper elementary school students. Investi-gators are similar to our Natural Inquirer journals, but the articles and activities are written for younger students.
Investi-gator journals include:
- Four to six articles based on published, peer-reviewed research papers; the articles keep the research paper format (see more below) but are written in language students can understand.
- A FACTivity for each article, which is an activity to complete after reading the article. The FACTivity helps reinforce major science concepts from the article. These activities are designed to be easy to implement, with few material requirements and options for adapting them for your audience or available resources. Some articles in a journal may have two FACTivities.
- A short “Welcome to the journal” article about key background information and science concepts that unify the articles included in the journal
- A glossary of new terms for each article and the introductory materials.
- A list of related Natural Inquirer publications for each article as well as outside references.
- Standards correlations, including Next Generation Science Standards, addressed in the articles and the FACTivities.
Journals may also include additional essays (called spotlights), other activities (like crossword puzzles or vocabulary challenges), and more.
Reading Modes
Investi-gator journals are currently available in two formats:
- PDF versions of the printed journal can be downloaded free on the website. The PDF version directly replicates the content and layout of the printed version. You can also download individual articles as pdfs.
- The “Read Distraction Free” option allows the individual articles to open in their own window, without the rest of the website being visible. These articles can be found under the “Articles” tab. This version allows readers to scroll to particular sections of the article using the sidebar menu on the left side of the screen. This version also has interactive Reflection Sections and Number Crunches. Students can enter their answers, submit them, and then receive the correct answers to double-check their work. Submitted answers are not saved on the website and will disappear once the window is closed.
What's in an Invest-gator Article?
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Meet the Scientists
This section introduces the scientists (and others) who worked on the study. In their own words, they each share a memorable science experience, a favorite research project, or something they learned during the course of their education or research.
Use this section to:
- Introduce kids to the variety of people who work in science
- Introduce kids to the variety of scientific fields and give brief descriptions of science-related jobs
- Explore ways that people interact with science every day
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) applications:
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Crosscutting Concepts: Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Many of the scientists and engineers featured in this section are also featured on our collector cards. Learn more about their work, how they got interested in their fields, and interesting projects they worked on. Cards can be printed as posters, too.
Thinking About Science
This section briefly describes a concept about science or scientific research. This overview can touch on topics like
- study type (longitudinal study, quantitative vs. qualitative data),
- behaviors of scientists (conducting literature reviews, collaborating with other specialists, replicating earlier studies),
- the practice of science (the scientific method, engineering design, data collection, randomization, controls and variables),
- or other aspects of science (bias, correlation vs. causation).
Use this section to:
- Reinforce steps in the scientific method and the process of science
- Encourage students to think about the practice of science and what it can and cannot tell us
- Consider the many types of scientific study and what information each type can provide
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Life Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
You can use key words to search for other or related scientific topics on our website (e.g. “longitudinal study,” “bias,” or “sampling”).
Thinking About the Environment
This section provides a brief overview of a topic or concept in environmental/life science. The topic or concept is directly related to the research study that follows. Examples of topics include the carbon cycle, the water cycle, habitat fragmentation, phenology, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
Use this section to:
- Provide important background information to help students understand the research study
- Serve as a quick reference during reading or class instruction
- Connect the research article with other activities or media on the same topic
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
You can use key words to search for more resources on life or earth science topics on our website (e.g. “habitat,” “carbon,” or “genetics”).
Introduction
This section begins the scientific article format. Much like the published, peer-reviewed study this article is based on, the introduction provides background information for the study – what is currently known and what remains unknown. The introduction culminates in the question(s) the study hopes to answer.
The introduction is also the first section with a Reflection Section. This section includes two or three questions to help kids reflect on what they’ve just learned in the Introduction. If they are using the online distraction-free reading mode, they can answer these questions directly on the website.
Use this section to:
- Review important background information that kids need to understand the study
- Connect the study to the concepts addressed in the Thinking About Science and Thinking About the Environment sections
- Understand research questions and hypotheses, including generating their own hypotheses given what they already know
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Use one of the guided reading lesson plans to help kids follow the format of a scientific paper.
Methods
This section is the nuts and bolts of the study design – the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the research. Contained within the Methods section are usually maps of the study location or the set-up of study plots, as well as details about what data was collected and how.
The Methods section also ends with a Reflection Section – two or three questions to help students think through what they just read. These questions are interactive on the distraction-free reading mode.
Use this section to:
- Show students how experiments and studies are designed and carried out
- Explore sampling methods and randomization
- Introduce various data collection tools (e.g. camera traps, surveys, insect collection tools, weather stations, etc.)
- Explain bias and how studies are designed to remove bias
- Help students gain experience with map reading
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Many Methods and Findings sections contain Number Crunches, which are simple math exercises designed to help students interact with the data from the study.
Findings
This section summarizes the data collected during the study. The Findings section usually includes data tables or graphs and highlights the significant data points from the study. This section often mentions statistical analysis or the use of computer programs to model or analyze the data, though these methods are only discussed generally.
The Findings section also ends with a Reflection Section – two or three questions to help students think through what they just read. These questions are interactive on the distraction-free reading mode.
Use this section to:
- Have students practice reading and interpreting graphs and tables
- Compare results between variables and controls
- Explain the concept of statistical significance
- Discuss how no data or negative results still provide valuable information
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Search the website for “map” or “graph” to find activities where students can practice making and reading maps and graphs.
Discussion
This section concludes each article. In it, we summarize the main findings of the scientists’ study. Additionally, we present the scientists’ ideas about the limitations of their study, the big-picture impacts of their research, and the scientists’ plans for future study or action.
The Discussion section ends with a Reflection Section – two or three questions to help students think through what they just read, especially general take-aways from the study. These questions are interactive on the distraction-free reading mode.
Use this section to:
- Discuss what conclusions can and cannot be drawn from the available data
- Explain the difference between correlation and causation
- Explore study limitations and opportunities for further study
- Brainstorm ways the study findings could be applied to real-world situations
Next Generation Science Standards applications:
- Life Science and some Earth Science Disciplinary Core Ideas (depending on topic)
- Most Crosscutting Concepts (depending on topic)
Note that specific standards are linked on this educator guide tab.
Other resources:
Use the “Designing Your Own Study” resource page for videos of scientists discussing their own research studies. The page also includes educator resources to help students plan their own scientific studies.
Additional Resources on the Website
On the website, we pair each journal with a variety of other resources, as well. Use the tabs on the product page to browse through the following:- Related activities, including the FACTivity for each article
- An “About” essay that gives some larger context for the research the scientists conducted or more information about the science topic from the journal
- A glossary of all boldfaced terms from the journal
- A “Scientists and Collaborators” page that lists the people involved in the studies in the journal; click on a researcher to reach their bio page and see what other articles they might be featured in
- A “Related Content” page that lists both Natural Inquirer resources about similar topics and also outside reference materials
Article Selection and Review
Natural Inquirer partners with the USDA Forest Service, so we source research studies by Forest Service scientists that have been peer-reviewed and published in reputable journals. Some of our articles have also been created in collaboration with scientists from other Federal agencies, such as U.S. Geological Survey and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, universities, and other non-profits.
All journal articles are reviewed by scientists who conducted the original research study to verify scientific accuracy. Journals are also reviewed by student editorial review boards of middle or high school students before publication. Additionally, all journals are reviewed by the Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture before publication.
Every journal article includes a citation of its source study. Many educators pair the original research paper with our article to help more advanced students learn how to read formal research papers. The journal article then serves as adapted primary literature, bridging the two articles.Lessons
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Introduce the scientific process, as expressed in scientific writing, to your students. This lesson plan will walk you through how to do a guided reading of an Investi-gator article (or...Lesson Plan – Main Ideas
Introduce the scientific process, as expressed in scientific writing, to your students. This lesson plan will walk you through how to do a guided reading of an Investi-gator article (or...
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Lyman Hall and Myers Elementary Schools
- Lyman Hall and Myers Elementary Schools
- Gainesville, GA
Editorial Review Board Comments
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David Bengston
My favorite science experience was learning about urban growth and urban policies in South Korea. I learned about them when I was a visiting scientist at Seoul National University during...View Profile -
John Campbell
My favorite science experience was seeing the aurora borealis (northern lights) while hiking back from a long day of fieldwork in Adirondack Mountains in New York.View Profile -
Lynn Christenson
It is difficult to pick just one experience; science can be really fun (most of the time!). So if I have to choose just one, it would be tracking moose...View Profile -
Christian Giardina
I like being a scientist because I like understanding how nature works. It is great to have a job studying plants and animals and the forests in which they live....View Profile -
Peter Groffman
My favorite science experience was when we looked at the chemical results from our field experiments. We saw that our experiment had worked and that our hypotheses about the effects...View Profile -
John King
There are so many rewards to a career in science that it is difficult to pick a single favorite experience. The thing I like best about it is the ability...View Profile -
Lingli Liu
The great thing about being an ecologist is you are always on the way to discovering the secrets of nature. To answer a scientific question, you need to design an...View Profile -
Myron Mitchell
I am most interested in understanding how climate change is affecting watersheds. A watershed is an area of land from which all of the water drains into one stream or...View Profile -
Paula Murakami
My favorite science experience is the opportunity to learn new things! Whether it is in the laboratory or in the woods, there is always something new to be discovered. Recently...View Profile -
Kristen Nelson
My favorite science experience was working with Mayan farmers and scientists to solve problems in Chiapas, Mexico. We worked on many different projects. In one community, we worked on projects...View Profile -
Paul Schaberg
My favorite science experience is getting an unexpected result to an experiment. Sure, it is great to develop a hypothesis and test it in an experiment. A hypothesis is an...View Profile -
John Shane
My favorite science experience was figuring out the movements of the Moon and their effects on the Moon’s nightly arc over all different moon phases and seasons. It was the...View Profile -
Abby van den Berg
I currently do research on the maple sugaring process. One of my favorite science experiences is talking to maple sugarmakers about the results of a research project. It’s a great...View Profile