Let me take a minute to explain how scientists observe.  Take a good look at Steve.   You are looking for his observable characteristics.  What do you see?" 

Alex stared at Steve.  "Let's see," he replied. "He has on a red shirt,  blue jeans, and black tennis shoes.  Oh, he also has red hair and his cap is on backwards."

Tom chimed in, "He's a boy, he's taller than me, and he's very smart."

"Those are very good observations, boys."  Then Professor Ennium spoke to Tom, "I know Steve is smart, but if someone walked past Steve on the street could they see how smart he is?"

"Well, no," Tom thoughtfully replied.  He thought some more and then exclaimed, "Oh, I get it! Observable characteristics are what we see when we look at something."

"I think everyone understands.  Let's use those observation skills and examine the characteristics of the bugs,"   Professor Ennium stated as he directed them to a lab table.

The professor explained to the group,   "We need to build a list of the characteristics as we discover them.  They will be our clues to identifying our specimen."

Choose the characteristics from the list below.  You may go back and check again if you don't remember. 

Possible Characteristics

Click each blue button that correctly identifies a
characteristic of the bug.

"Our lab assistant is doing a great job listing the characteristics of the bugs." Professor Ennium bragged as he guided them to their next observations.   "Let's take a look at this bug under the hand lens again." 

How many pairs of legs
does this bug have? 3 4 6 8

How many antennae
does this bug have?  1 2

Professor Ennium praised the group, "You are doing a fine job! Let's get this next group of characteristics into the computer."

Choose the characteristics we've discovered
from the list below.

"Professor, these bugs were flying around the workshop, but where are their wings?"  Tom questioned.

"Now you are thinking like a scientist, Tom,"
the professor said.  
"This is an illustration of the bug's wings.  Examine the picture and read the caption  carefully."

Choose the wing characteristics from the list below.

Possible Characteristics

Click each blue button that correctly identifies a
characteristic of the bug.

Alex gazed across the lab, deep in thought.  "Professor, I remember studying about these characteristics in our insect unit.  I think our bug is a kind of insect."

Alex pulled one of the professor's insect books from the shelf and began his search. "But Professor, there are millions of insects!  This is like looking for a needle in a haystack.  How will we ever identify our bugs?"

Yes, there are a lot of insects.   Scientists have a complicated system to identify and classify plants and animals. They not only examine an organism's size and shape, but they also examine its behavior and its habitat to help identify it."

Professor Ennium bragged on the group, "You've done a great job with your observations.  I think we have enough information for our computer to analyze.  It can narrow our search."

Can you use the characteristics we have observed and find the boy's bug in the group of beetles above? 
When you discover it, click on the picture.

During the winter months, the adults find shelter
in hedges, under rocks and bark, or in protected places such as buildings or houses.

From the paragraph above, what new characteristic have we discovered?

"Good job group, the professor bragged. Your observations helped you determine what kind  of bugs you found, but we haven't answered the other question.  Why were hundreds of the bugs in the workshop? Think about all you have learned. 
Can you infer why the ladybugs were in the workshop?" 

"That was very interesting, professor.
I learn something new each time I visit Discovery Lab," Steve said.

"I'm glad we could figure out
what was bugging you, the professor replied.  You have developed some great observational skills.  Recording and analyzing observations is the
key to any project."  

"Oh professor, we got so excited about the ladybugs that I almost forgot we were going to work on a science project for school.  Do you think we could do something with beetles?"  Steve asked.

"I think we could figure something out,  the professor smiled.  First, we'll need to do some research."

The boys groaned as they followed the professor into the library.

Check out the other lessons Discovery Lab has to offer by clicking on the picture of the ladybug feasting on aphids.