Note: This lesson is designed to be an extension of the ecology curriculum Resilient Planet Mission 1 Exploring Ecosystems Field Assignment. The Mission Challenge is to use tools to collect biotic and abiotic data from a local ecosystem and analyze and interpret the data. In this lesson we will use the Aecern Ecosystem App to collect data from a local ecosystem, and compare that data with an ecosystem in a different biome. A final product will communicate the information.
Objectives:
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Students will collect and record data from a local ecosystem, using the Aecern Ecosystem App, that describe the biotic and abiotic parts of a local ecosystem.
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Students will compare data from different ecosystems and different biomes, formulate a research question, and communicate findings.
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Teachers will use the Aecern App and integrate its use into existing JASON curriculum.
Time:
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2-3 class periods
Preparation:
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Download Aecern App onto devices
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Make sure internet connections are functional and check link to YouTube video
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Paste avatar pictures to paint stirring sticks to use when assigning Avatars to student groups for data collection
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Have a rock and a plant available.
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Gather containers for water and soil samples
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Gather test strips for chemical analysis of water and soil
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Provide materials for student generated final projects.
Motivate:
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Hold up a rock and a plant. Ask students to make observations. Students should conclude that one is alive and one is not.
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As a class, review the terms biotic and abiotic.
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Have students work in pairs to generate a list of biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem and record this information in their science notebooks.
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Play the video Introducing Biomes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIy0ZlyPPDg
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After watching the video, ask students to add any new information they noticed in the video to their science notebook.
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As a class, generate a list of biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
Teach: 
Part 1: Collecting Data
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Demonstrate how to use the Aecern My Ecosystem App to collect data. Be sure to choose several protocols and practice taking pictures, recording voice, scrolling choices and saving data.
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Assign students to groups of three and allow student groups to pick an Avatar stick. This will be the Avatar they use to collect data.
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Go outside and allow students to pick an area for study. Encourage students to spread out for variety in data. Have students complete each of the protocols collecting and recording data. Have students collect soil and water samples in the provided containers
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When students have collected data and samples, return to the room and complete the chemical analysis of the water and soil samples. Remind students go back into the appropriate protocols and add this data.
Part 2: Data Analysis
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Demonstrate how to use the Discovery Hub to view classroom data. Be sure to practice with the filter feature. Show students how to access classroom data from students in Honduras (or any other data set from a different biome).
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Allow student groups to look through the data. In their science notebooks, have groups formulate questions they have based on the two different sets of data from different ecosystems.
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As a class generate a list of research questions that students thought about as they looked at the two data sets.
Example: How does the soil in our schoolyard compare to the soil in a tropical rainforest? Why are they different?
Example: Why don’t we have wild iguanas on our campus?
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Have student groups decide on a question to research. Students will analyze and interpret the data, use the Internet for further research about the topic and take notes in their science notebooks.
Part 3: Communicating the Information
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As a class, generate a list of final products student groups could use to communicate their findings to the class and share with other students.
Example: iMovie, Padlet, poster, Interview, Jing
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Have student groups create a final project to share with the class and post on the JASON website to share with students around the world.
Assessment:
In your science notebook, describe several ideas for lessons that would use the Aecern App protocols as enhancement for existing JASON curriculum. Share these ideas with the group.
Journal Question:
Describe how you think the procedures you followed during this lesson are similar to the procedures that the scientists featured in the JASON lessons follow. What did you learn about the way a scientist does his work?
Extension:
In scientific research, the data gathered often becomes the background research for experiments. Look at the data you collected and generate a new research question. Form a hypothesis and design an experiment to test your hypothesis. If possible, conduct the experiment and share your results.