Measuring in a Science Lab

What tools are used to measure liquids, solids, and temperature in science?

How is the metric system used with liquids, solids, and temperature?

How are accurate measurements made?

Follow this procedure

1.   Use the measuring cup to measure 200 mL of water.  Pour the water into a large container.

2.   Measure 10 mL of dishwashing soap. 

3.   Stir the soap into the water in the large container. 

4.   Each person pours 25 mL of the liquid into a small container.

5.   Use the straw to blow air into the liquid in the small container.  Observe the bubbles with and without a hand lens.  Record your observations.

Think about this experiment.

1.  Compare your bubble observations with and without the hand lens.  How did the hand lens change your observations of the bubbles? 

2.  Explain at least one thing a scientist needs to know about measuring in the lab.  

Who needs diverse habitats?

 370 SPECIES of BIRDS!!!!!

• Sand Dunes
• Salt marshes
• Mudflats
• Brackish ponds
• Riparian
• Coastal Sage Scrub



The Endangered Least Bell's Vireo

• Vernal pools

Read "Going Birding", page 14 in the
Estuary Explorer Field Guide.

What does a bird watcher look for in birds?

• Shape of feet and beak.
• Colors and patterns.
• Sounds.
• Behavior.

Which one of these birds that migrates at the Estuary do you hope to see on your trip?  Find out more about one of these birds.

• Great Blue Heron 
• Ruddy Duck
• Northern Shoveler
• Osprey
• Willet 
• Marbled Godwit
• American Avocet
• Western Grebe
• Snowy Egret
• California Least Tern

What is a Watershed?

Where do you think you would find a watershed?

 Read "Where does water live?" in The Estuary Explorers Field Guide.

• Do you live in a watershed?  Find yours!
• What is a wetland?

Plankton and Fish?

  Estuary, Brackish Water, Plankton and Fish?  

Find the connections by reading "Invisible Water Animals" in the The Estuary Explorers Field Guide

Find out more on these links!

• Brackish Water  Would you water your plant with brackish water?
• An estuary is... 
• Invertebrate   
• Plankton   
• Ichthyoplankton 
• See pictures of a  Fish Life Cycle   When are fish ickthyoplankton?
• Daphnia

Where will we find the answers?

We'll read The Estuary Explorers Field Guide then visit the Tijuana River Natural Estuarine Research Reserve. 

We will see a diversity of habitats including: 

• Vernal pools
• Riparian
• Salt marsh
• Coastal sage scrub
• Mudflats

Riparian Habitat

Adaptations and Survival in Life Science

Survival in the face of Danger!!!!!

How have plants and animals adapted to 

survive the challenges given by Nature?

Where will we learn some answers? Become an Estuary Explorer at the  Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

We know...

• If one animal becomes extinct, there is chance the predators of that animal may die out, or it will have to change its diet.
• The weather can affect organisms, such as droughts.
• Animals have to adapt to what the environment gives them to eat.
• Prey animals have special things to defend themselves against predators.
• Animals like polar bears have special coats to adapt to the weather.
• Deep-sea animals have bacteria that light up so they can see prey.
• Predators have special body parts that can help them get their food.
• Camouflage is used for hunting and hiding.

Questions we have.

• How can the environment make extinction happen?
• What will we see?   
• What are a  diversity of habitats including Vernal pools, Riparian, Salt marsh, Coastal sage scrub, and Mudflats?
• Watershed 
• What is a wetland?
• Migration 
• Estuary 
• Brackish Water  
• Invertebrate   Plankton   Ichthyoplankton 

Read The Estuary Explorers Field Guide before we go!