Name:_____________________________________ Date:__________________ Block:__________
Scientific Method Lab - Cricket Chirps
Can Crickets Tell the Temperature?
Question: Some say that if you listen to the sound of a cricket chirping, you can
determine the temperature. Is this true or is it just an urban (science) legend? Do
any other factors affect how fast a cricket will chirp, such as humidity, wind,
atmospheric pressure, or nearby crickets?
Procedure: You will use a virtual lab to test a cricket subject.
http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/biology/glacier/scientific_method/index.swf
Step 1: At the sign-in page, choose CONTINUE and then enter your names to begin
Step 2: Choose TUTORIAL and complete the reading and questions
Step 3: Choose CRICKET and begin the experiment after completing the introduction
Note: You must record your data at each step…hitting the back button WILL NOT recreate the data
Step 4: Complete the web quest and your lab report as described below:
Short Lab Report should include:
1. Introduction - state the problem (question) and hypothesis. Define your dependent and
independent variables.
2. Results - organize your data into easy to read tables and/or graphs. (Be sure to take enough
data to draw conclusions)
3. Analysis - state your conclusions where you answer the experimental question. Indicate
whether you support or reject your hypothesis. BE CLEAR in your analysis about what factors
affected cricket chirps and exactly HOW chirps were affected (show a relationship - increased,
decrease, etc.)
Introduction
 Problem Statement:
 Hypothesis:
o Independent Variable(s) tested:
o Dependent Variable(s) tested:
Name:_____________________________________ Date:__________________ Block:__________
Results
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Data Tables
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Graph
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Name:_____________________________________ Date:__________________ Block:__________
Analysis