Name: _____________________________________________ Grade & Section: ________________

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: ________________ Score:

QUARTER 1
PERFORMANCE TASK #1
Scientific Investigation: How Does Temperature and Humidity Affect the Frequency of Cricket Chirps?

I. INTRODUCTION:
Crickets “chirp” by rubbing their wings or legs over each other. This phenomenon is known as
stridulation. It is means by which male crickets “call” to females to communicate their interest in
mating.

Frequency refers to the number of chirps that crickets produce during a period of time. Some
have suggested that you can tell the temperature and the humidity based on how fast crickets’
chirp.

Since it may be difficult to gather data on cricket chirps, since they most likely produce sounds at
dusk, your teacher will show you a simulation that can be used to determine which variable,
temperature, or humidity, has the greatest affect on chirp frequency.

II. DEVELOP A HYPOTHESIS (circle):

a.) As the temperature increases, the frequency of chirping [increases / decreases / stays the
same] (2pts)
b.) As the humidity increases, the frequency of chirping [increases / decreases / stays the same]
(2pts)

III. DATA TABLE

Temperature Humidity Number of Chirps

IV. ANALYZE THE DATA

You have gathered to answer the following questions in complete and coherent sentences.

1. How does temperature affect the number of chirps? (3pts)

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2. How does humidity affect the number of chirps? (3pts)
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3. Identify the independent (experimental) variable in this experiment. (1pt)
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4. Identify the dependent (responding) variable in this experiment. (1pt)
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5. Suggest another experiment that could be performed on crickets and chirping. (3pts)
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6. Why should you only use male crickets in these experiments? (5pts)
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