Using ants, animal behavior and the learning cycle to investigate scientific processes

The behavior of animals is an intrinsically fascinating topic for students from a wide array of backgrounds. We describe a learning experience using animal behavior that we created for middle school students as part of a graduate-student outreach program, Graduate Partners in Science Education, at Arizona State University in collaboration with a K-8 public school. This activity capitalizes on the interest that animal behavior can generate to introduce and reinforce student understanding of the scientific method. Specifically, our activity highlights the general utility of the scientific method and uses this method to examine ant social behavior, with emphasis on generating and testing hypotheses. Furthermore, this activity introduces the idea of animal societies and encourages students to apply the concepts they learn to other species, including humans. By collecting ants locally, from schoolyards or nearby habitats, this experience situates learning in the context of students' own communities. We also provide optional assessment materials that teachers can use to assess learning objectives and standard mastery.

Title	Using ants, animal behavior and the learning cycle to investigate scientific processes
Creator	Butler, Michael W.
	Ganesh, T. G.
	Dolezal, A. G.
	Hicks, M. R.
	Morehouse, N. I.
	Ligon, R. A.
Publisher	American Biology Teacher
Academic Department	Biology
Division	Natural Sciences
Organization	Lafayette College
Date Issued	October 2014
Date Available	2014-12-18T14:22:21Z
Type	Article
Language	English
Keyword	data collection
	scientific method
	hypothesis
	NGSS
	ethology
	middle school
Bibliographic Citation	Ligon, R. A., et al. (2014 Oct) "Using ants, animal behavior and the learning cycle to investigate scientific processes." American Biology Teacher 76 (8): 525-534.
Standard Identifier	DOI 10.1525/abt.2014.76.8.6
Standard Identifier	Handle 10385/1528
Permalink	http://hdl.handle.net/10385/1528
Rights Statement	In Copyright
Rights Holders	National Association of Biology Teachers