THE GROUP 4 SCIENCE PROJECTS AT RACE ROCKS : 1998
In the last part of April and early May, the 100 first year science students of Lester Pearson College have included in their course work this new addition to the International Baccalaureate program. Our project topic was Race Rocks as an Educational Resource for Science Education.
Students were first given a list
of a wide range of possible topics that could be investigated, and they
were encouraged to develop their own ideas from that.
 After Planning sessions at the college, students went by boat to the
island to do the research for the project.
 One group used a seismometer to measure impacts of a lead weight from the top of the tower.
One group worked on the transmission of quakes. A lead weight was dropped
off the tower and a seismograph was constructed on the ground to record
the shock waves.
There was also a group dropping parachutes from the tower and measuring
drop rates of different sizes of chutes.
  The island was
also the site of an experiment to measure ultra violet light .
 Gavin and Kinwa studied the Glaucous winged gull population at Race Rocks. It soon became apparent that there are many problems faced by scientists investigating animal behavior. They observed over 1500 gulls area in the area at some times of the day. The movements and feeding patterns of the gulls contributed to a constantly shifting population Ana and Vera studied how the color of the substrate rock influences the biodiversity of species. They found that a number of variables probably influence the pool communities, color only being one of them.  Michelle, Ada , Hernan and Maria looked at "Cryptocolorization" the role that geological features play in determining the color characteristics of a population. Poster displays were presented in the Foyer of Max Bell Hall. Students answered questions from teachers and other students.
   
A number of the groups also gave oral presentations. An important part
of the exercise was to have peer questioning and approval.
  
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