Selecting your habitat site

0. Before going outside, create a spreadsheet to record the following:

   • temperature of the air

   • temperature of the ground

   • temperature above and below some leaves or small rocks

   • temperature at ground level and 20 cm below ground level

   You will take 5 readings for each type of location. Refer to Technical Hints to see how to create a spreadsheet.

1. Visit a field and select a square meter area that has a wide variety of habitats (rocks, grass, leaves, etc.) Use a meter stick to measure out one square meter. Use the stakes to mark all four corners of your site. Box in the site by wrapping the string around your habitat.

2. Using graph paper, draw a picture of your site. On a piece of graph paper mark off a large square to represent your square meter. Decide how many squares on your graph paper represent each centimeter in your observation area. Mark the locations of various objects in your observation area in the appropriate location on your graph paper by using your meter stick.