Students in Mrs. Kelly's 6th-grade science class collecting and analyzing data.

During an experiment in 6th grade science, students were self-directed, responsible data collectors as they collaborated in groups and then as a class.

To explore the driving question of “What can cause populations to change?” students first explored food and water by testing for carbohydrates (sugar & starch), proteins, and fats.

• Why it matters: This exploration starts the process of developing a deep understanding of how ecosystems work by first discovering what is in the food that’s available.

What’s next: Students will think critically about the collected data to draw reasonable conclusions. They’ll determine how the population of an ecosystem changes when the available food changes.