Name: ______Class: ______Date: ______

Teacher Directions: Over the course of the Red-bellied Headstart Project, students will take turns filling in the data tables shown on the next two pages (1). A binder will be kept at the back of the classroom for data entry. Each week, a copy will be sent to the Director of Endangered Species, Dr. Tom French. Students will also be selected to enter the data into an excel file kept on the classroom computer. Near the end of the project, students will be taught how to sum columns, enter formulas and create a graph on Excel for use in their final research project. They will be given a day in the computer lab to get help with Excel and the research portion of their final report.

Turtle Habitat Constuction:

Habitat construction will depend on grant money. Normal aquarium filters are not effective once the turtles start feeding heavily. The only requirements are a 20 gallon tank that has a heating system that keeps the water temperature between 80 and 84 deg F (1). A vitalite is also required by the protocol. The protocol does not specify a specific filtering system, but Kurt Schatzl from the New England Herpetological Society, has resorted to using a Rubbermaid container with a stopper at the bottom attached to plastic tubing so that gravity fed water changes can be preformed once per day. He now uses a pig blanket under the Rubbermaid for the heat source (2).

Assessment/Grading Criteria:

On page 2 you will find the grading criteria for their research report.

References

  1. French, Tom. Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle Headstarting Protocol. Unpublished
  2. Shatzl, Kurt. Personal CommunicationFebruary 16, 2008

Data Sheet Source: Data Sheets were developed using the sample data sheet provided in the Headstart Protocol that was developed by Dr. Tom French.

Name:______Class:______Date______

Directions: This grading checklist is for your final report on the Plymouth Red-bellied Turtle Head Starting Project.

Grading Checklist:

Format: (4 pts)

___ Single spaced (may be in 2 columns if desired) (1)

___Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt (1)

___ Pages are numbered (1)

___ Includes cove page (1)

Contains the following sections with headings: (8 pts)

___Abstract (1)

___Background Research (1)

___Purpose (1)

___Materials and Methods (include pictures) (1)

___Data: Tables and Graphs (computer generated) (1)

___Analysis (1)

___Discussion (1)

___References (1)

Content: (18 pts)

___ Scientific Correctness (5 pts)

___ Quality of Research (5 pts)

___ Grammar and Spelling (3 pts)

___ Originality and Effort (5 pts)

_____Total Points (30 pts)

Month: ______

Turtle Number (s): ______

Day / Water Temperature / Day / Water Temperature / Day / Water Temperature
1 / 12 / 23
2 / 13 / 24
3 / 14 / 25
4 / 15 / 26
5 / 16 / 27
6 / 17 / 28
7 / 18 / 29
8 / 19 / 30
9 / 20 / 31
10 / 21
11 / 22

Red-bellied Turtle Project – Sample Data Sheet

Turtle Number: ______

Week / Weight in Grams / Weight Change / Percent Change / Carapace Length (mm) / Chang e in Length
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36