So we really want to see if our predictions are right, or if something else will happen. We're trying to figure out the best way to see how to do this...and after careful thought, the class brainstormed ways in which we could safely investigate our predictions. Here's what we came up with!
We all agreed that bringing the actual raccoon in would be a safety risk for everyone. And while asking Mrs. Brinza to go and take pictures everyday would be a great idea, we thought that this may still be risky and not quite possible, especially if someone came and picked it up (like a park ranger who's job is to pick up roadkill). We brainstormed ways in which could have something else that was dead in our classroom, and while raw meat and fruits/veggies seemed like a good idea, they wouldn't necessarily mimic what was going on with the raccoon, which had fur all over it (raw meat doesn't) and it's an animal (fruits/veggies are plant parts).
The ideas of camera footage seemed wonderful, but there was no security camera set up to record what would happen to the raccoon. So with a little research, we discovered a great video on youtube of a similar organism to a raccoon--a badger! We'll be looking at the badger and what happens to it over time to see if our predictions are right. And we'll also see what new questions we have based on what we see!
The ideas of camera footage seemed wonderful, but there was no security camera set up to record what would happen to the raccoon. So with a little research, we discovered a great video on youtube of a similar organism to a raccoon--a badger! We'll be looking at the badger and what happens to it over time to see if our predictions are right. And we'll also see what new questions we have based on what we see!
Dead badger picked clean
A time-lapse video of a roadkill badger being recycled. Different speeds. One or two gaps. Natural light. (Warning: British law says you shouldn't remove dead badgers from roads. If you do and you are found in possession of the badger's corpse, you might be prosecuted for badger-baiting. Daft? Yes.
What do you notice? What do you now wonder? How could we figure this out?