Weather conditions and seasonal variations in sightings<\/h4>\n
Purpose:<\/strong> In February, students looked for patterns in ladybug data connected to features of their schoolyard. This month, students will look for patterns connected to particular weather conditions and seasonal variations in the number and types of ladybugs they have observed (and not observed) during their searches.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/a> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#338BC8″ custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Not finding ladybugs?<\/b> Increasing the time you have your class search for ladybugs, now that the seasons are changing, may help students find more ladybugs than they have in the past. Refer to the Science Content Support: Vegetation and Ladybugs for more information about how to attract ladybugs on your school grounds.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjYwNCJ9fQ==@” button_text=”Previous: 6: February” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_border_width=”0px” button_icon=”#||divi||400″ button_icon_placement=”left” button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”|20px|||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjYyMSJ9fQ==@” button_text=”Next: 8: April” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_border_width=”0px” button_icon=”$||divi||400″ button_on_hover=”off” custom_padding=”|||20px|false|false” custom_css_main_element=”text-align:right !important;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_font_size=”56px” header_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_font_size=”26px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#cc232f” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||2px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-17.png” title_text=”Asset 17″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”13px” text_line_height=”1.3em” custom_margin=”||12px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n DCI: <\/b>LS2.AInterdependent relationships in ecosystems<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”13px” text_line_height=”1.3em” custom_margin=”||12px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n CCC: <\/b>Patterns; <\/i><\/b>Systems and System Models<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”13px” text_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||32px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n SP4:<\/strong> Analyzing & Interpreting data SP6:<\/strong> Constructing Explanations [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.3em” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_font_size=”56px” header_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font=”|600|||||||” header_3_font_size=”26px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” header_4_font=”|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#cc232f” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||2px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/sbpscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-13-095802.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Importance of Consistency<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-18.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Ms. Jones\u2019 Class Notices Patterns<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/sbpscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-25.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Using Graphs to Compare Data<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/sbpscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-31.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Writing Prompt<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/sbpscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-26.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Practice Overview: Constructing Explanations<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-20.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Scaffolding Questions to Support Student Data Analysis and Interpretation<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-21.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Viewing Seasonal Data in iNaturalist <\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-28.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100%” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n April Preview<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Objectives” module_id=”citscience” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”35px|||||” border_width_top=”8px” border_color_top=”#cc232f” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Module Heading with Icon” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”width: 15%!important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/sbpscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-13-095802.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-03-13 095802″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|51px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#454545″ header_font_size=”42px” header_line_height=”2.2em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#454545″ header_3_font_size=”26px” custom_margin=”|||-38px||” header_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Remember, participatory science relies on the data collected by everyday people, and regular participation is key! The season is changing and more vegetation will be emerging. It will be a great time to get outside with students to continue to collect, photograph, and upload ladybug data as often as possible with your class.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As you\u2019re examining the impacts weather, vegetation, and geographic features have on which ladybugs you find at your school, remember the overarching questions:<\/span><\/p>\n 1. How does the presence of ladybugs change across the school year? What might explain those changes?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n a. Which species of ladybugs do we find at our school? Are they native, non-native, or both?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n b. What features of our school grounds make the space habitable\/uninhabitable for native ladybugs?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 2. How can we improve the habitat for ladybugs in our schoolyard? <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The factors you look at this month can help students better understand patterns in the ladybug data they have recorded.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Objectives” module_id=”narrative” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”35px|||||” border_width_top=”8px” border_color_top=”#cc232f” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Module Heading with Icon” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”width: 15%!important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-18.png” title_text=”Asset 18″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#454545″ header_font_size=”42px” header_line_height=”2.2em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#454545″ header_3_font_size=”26px” header_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As students look at data from earlier in the year, Ms. Jones notices that students are mainly focused on what season sightings occurred in, perhaps due to their recent study of seasonal variation as part of their weather unit. For example, one student shares that their class seemed most likely to find ladybugs during their search efforts in the fall, highlighting particularly fruitful efforts in late September. This attention to seasons helps Ms. Jones\u2019s students identify patterns in temperature and length of daylight that align with seasonal patterns. Ms. Jones uses her document camera to project the observation recording sheets from those three searches, asking students what they notice. One student points out that they recorded temperatures between 71\u00b0F and 80\u00b0F on each of the days. Another notices that all of the sightings on those days occurred in a raised garden bed where another class was growing spinach. Ms. Jones then shared a recording sheet from early October, in which the class searched but found no ladybugs, asking students what they notice. One recalls that particular search effort, remembering that it had started raining when they were outside and it felt much colder. Another notes that the temperature they recorded was between 51\u00b0F and 60\u00b0F. Ms. Jones reminds students that as they review data, it is important to consider temperature or other conditions observed in addition to the date or season. One student jokes, \u201cIt\u2019s not like the ladybugs have a calendar!\u201d Another adds, \u201cBut I bet today <\/span>feels <\/span><\/i>like spring to them! It\u2019s very warm today. Maybe we should go out to look!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Objectives” module_id=”scitutorial” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”35px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_top=”8px” border_color_top=”#cc232f” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Module Heading with Icon” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||1px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”width: 10%!important;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/sbpscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-25.png” title_text=”Asset 25″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|-18px||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#454545″ header_font_size=”42px” header_line_height=”2.2em” header_3_font=”|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#454545″ header_3_font_size=”26px” custom_margin=”|||42px||” header_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” header_line_height_phone=”1.2em” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Asset-27.png\")
Export data<\/span><\/a><\/a> that students and another location have submitted, and allow time to make sense of the data to look for patterns consistent with what they might have discovered during the February activity when considering weather and temperature as factors.\u00a0<\/span>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/horizon-research.com\/tl4cs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Picture4-300x209.png\")
<\/span>Break students into groups to specifically look at seasonal patterns (using dates in the export) in weather and temperature and connect with the ladybug data. Ask each group to prepare a short class presentation of their findings. Their presentation should include a graph or a drawing to illustrate their findings, document their seasonal ladybug data, and explain why patterns might differ throughout the year. For example, one group could focus on temperature and show how changing temperatures throughout the year impact patterns in the number and variety of ladybugs that are observed. <\/span>After students have made sense of data collected thus far in the year, have the class make predictions about the species they expect to find and what they expect others reporting data to the project across the state will find in the coming months. <\/span><\/p>\nStandards + Practices<\/h4>\n
Students will analyze and interpret data from their Data Recording Sheets to discuss weather conditions when ladybugs have or have not been found on school grounds to determine what features of these conditions increase the likelihood of finding ladybugs.<\/em><\/p>\n
As students consider ladybug searches from different seasons and in different weather conditions, they construct explanations that are supported with evidence using data they have collected throughout the year.<\/em><\/p>\nResources + Supports<\/h4>\n
The Importance of Consistency<\/h3>\n
Ms. Jones\u2019 Class Notices Patterns<\/h3>\n
Using Graphs to Compare Data<\/b><\/h3>\n
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