This investigation will introduce students to the importance of using good observation skills, which enables researchers to accurately collect and record data. Students will be given a sample of (teacher-created) bear poop to analyze. The scientific word for poop is scat. Through careful observation and examination, they will be able to answer questions about what bears eat, quality of habitat, time of year, and bear safety.
Recommended level: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
1. The Science of Scat: Studying Bears Through Their Poop