Phenomenon Description: The shells of Eastern box turtles exhibit a wide variety of color and pattern variations within the same species. The Eastern box turtle is our state reptile and is found throughout the state.
Location: Eno River State Park, Durham, NC
Grade Level or Course: Grade 7
Question: Why do Eastern Box Turtles have so many variations in shell patterns?
Topics Related to Patterns
Phenomenon Description: In the fall, the green color in the leaves goes away, and we start to see the bright reds, oranges, and yellows that were hiding inside all along.
Location: Wake County, Wake Forest
Grade Level or Course: Kindergarten
Question: Why do leaves change color in the fall?
Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns
Other related questions you considered about the phenomenon:
Why do some chickens look like they’re wearing a checkerboard while others are solid black or white?
Phenomenon Description: A chicken with speckled (“checkered”) black and white plumage
Location: Harnett County, Angier
Grade Level or Course: Biology
Question: Why do some chickens look like they’re wearing a checkerboard while others are solid black or white?
Other related questions about the phenomenon:
How would you describe the phenotype of an organism that inherits codominant alleles?