1. Watch the entire video once. �
2. Watch the video again, but this time, take notes about things you notice. Write words or short phrases that come to mind.��

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Take a field trip to field stations and marine laboratories around the world. These are places where researchers study natural processes and how humans interact with the landscape. Each video is filmed by a researcher who takes you on a guided, but unnarrated, tour of an ecosystem. �As you walk with them, hone your powers of observation by describing what you see.

Which Ecosystem Exploration video will you watch? Your teacher may assign a video or allow you to choose a video from the library. �

Video Title: _________________________________________________

​

​

​

​

MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED

​

Computer

Internet

Pen or pencil

​

​

​

​

​

DURATION

​

1 hour activity

​

​

​

​

​

​

OTHER ACTIVITIES

​

• Sketch What You See
• Ask Questions
• Find Evidence

​

​

​

​

​

MORE INFORMATION

​

thevirtualfield.org

​

​

​

​

​

​

Blurry video? See viewing tips posted next to each video link on The Virtual Field website.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

DESCRIBE AN ECOSYSTEM

The Virtual Field - Ecosystem Exploration Series

​

WRITE FIELD NOTES

Explorer Guide

​

thevirtualfield.org is a project of the Organization of Biological Field Stations

3. Now write three or more sentences to describe the ecosystem and any changes you observe as the viewer travels through it.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Think-Pair Share �with a neighbor

Share one observation �with the class

The Virtual Field - Ecosystem Exploration Series

​

WRITE FIELD NOTES

Explorer Guide

​

thevirtualfield.org is a project of the Organization of Biological Field Stations

4. I NOTICE: What did you see in the video that surprised or interested you?�����
5. I WONDER: Do you wish the video had shown you a view that it didn’t? If so, what was it?

​

1. Watch the video a third time, and pause at a scene that interests you. �
2. Write a description of the scene or an object in greater detail than you used in your previous descriptions. Your description should include:
• Colors, shapes, textures and patterns.
• Both macro (scene/landscape) and micro (small detail) scales.
• The number, size, or distance of something in the image.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Share your description with a neighbor and have them watch the video. Can they find the scene you’re describing? Ask them what you communicated accurately, and what you missed.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

WRITE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Virtual Field - Ecosystem Exploration Series

​

WRITE FIELD NOTES

Explorer Guide

​

thevirtualfield.org is a project of the Organization of Biological Field Stations

1. Choose and watch a second Ecosystem Exploration video (your teacher may assign a video, or may direct you to choose your own).��Video Title: _________________________________________________�
2. Repeat the “Describe an Ecosystem” exercise above. First, watch the entire video once. Then watch the video again, but this time, take notes about things you notice. Write words or short phrases that come to mind.�����

���

1. How is this ecosystem different from the one you explored in the first video? How is it similar?������������
2. Did watching the second video make you want to add anything to your description of the first video? If so, what would you have added?

​

��

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

COMPARE ECOSYSTEMS