Science — Biology

Biology Lab Documentation Sheet

Grades K-12 | Aurora Curriculum Pack

Living systems protocol: When working with living organisms, document how they are treated and returned to their environment. Biology requires care for the organisms being studied. Circle safety requirements: Gloves Eye protection Hand washing after Adult supervision No cross-contamination

Aurora Biology standard: Biology is the documented study of living systems. Every organism operates within systems — cellular, organismal, ecological. Your job is to observe, measure, and document what living things actually do, not what you expect them to do.

Investigation Identity

Topic/organism being studied: _______________________________________________

Date: _______________ Grade level: _______________ Facilitator: _______________

Biology level (circle one): Cell Biology Genetics Ecology Human Body Systems Plant Biology Animal Behavior Microbiology Evolution

Research Question

State your question as something observable and measurable. Avoid questions that can only be answered with "yes" or "no":

Background Knowledge — What You Know Before Starting

In 2-3 sentences, summarize what you already know about the organism or system you are studying. If you used a reference, document it:

Reference used (if any): _______________________________________________

Hypothesis

"I predict that [organism/system] will [behavior/change] because [biological mechanism or prior knowledge]."

Procedure

Diagram or Labeled Drawing — Draw What You Observe

Draw the organism, cell, system, or structure. Label all parts you can identify. Use a pencil so you can correct.

Draw your biological diagram here — label all visible structures

Magnification (if using microscope): _______ Scale (if measured): _______

Quantitative Data — Measure What You Can

Variable Being Measured	Unit	Trial 1	Trial 2	Trial 3	Average

Qualitative Observations — What You Observed Beyond Numbers

Color, texture, movement, response:

Behavior or pattern documented:

Systems Thinking — For Grades 6-12

Identify which larger biological system your subject is part of. How does what you observed connect to the function of that larger system?

Primary Source Connection

Name one scientist whose documented research connects to the biology you studied today. What did they observe and document? (Free sources: Smithsonian, National Institutes of Health public databases, NASA Astrobiology)

Documented Conclusion

Did your data support your hypothesis? Begin with "My observations show..." and explain the biological mechanism responsible for what you saw.

Aurora Pause

How does the biological system you studied today connect to the health of a community or ecosystem? Name one specific real-world connection: