GEMS project

GEMS Ant Homes: Under the Ground

Laura Lansdell & Christine Ryder

Description

Concept Map

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5E Lesson Plan # 2

AUTHORS’ NAMES: Christine Ryder-Lombel
TITLE OF THE LESSON: Hungry Ants: What’s for Dinner?
TECHNOLOGY LESSON: No
DATE OF LESSON: October 15th, 2007
LENGTH OF LESSON: 60 minutes
NAME OF COURSE: 1st Grade Science

SOURCE OF THE LESSON: Gems Guide, Ant Homes: Under the Ground, Activity 3 Session 2

TEKS ADDRESSED:

1.1 Scientific processes. The student conducts classroom and field investigations following home and school safety procedures. The student is expected to:

(A) Demonstrate safe practices during classroom and field investigations.

1.9 Science concepts. The student knows that living organisms have basic needs. The student is expected to:

(A) Identify characteristics of living organisms that allow their basic needs to be met; and
(B) Compare and give examples of the ways living organisms depend on each other for their basic needs.
CONCEPT STATEMENT:

Students will gain an understanding of the different types of food ants eat in order to survive. Some species will feed on practically anything; others may limit their food to a narrow range. Brown ants typically feed on "people food," both food in storage (sugar, cakes, cookies, crackers, etc.) and food from spills and garbage. Students will learn how ants depend on each other and work together to retrieve food and return it back into their chamber. Lastly, students will learn why ants build nest.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:

Students will be able to:
Understand what types of food ants eat to survive.
Understand and demonstrate how ants must work together in order to capture their food and bring it back to their chamber.
Explain why ants have nests.

RESOURCES:

1 or 2 blankets and sheets draped over chairs and tables to create the tunnels and chamber.
1 sleeping bag, blanket, or bedspread to make a caterpillar.
3 pieces of yarn for the caterpillar.
2 round pieces of fabric to create the eyes of the caterpillar.
Colored pencils, crayons, and pencils for the Ant Book.

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:

Before the lesson begins, the teacher will explain to the class that they must work well together and as they carry the caterpillar through the chairs and tables they must do so carefully. Students will work in smaller groups of two so that every student participates in the activity and to ensure the safety of all students. As students are waiting their turn, they are to wait quietly without disrupting the group that is partaking in the activity. Once the group is through role playing, they will sit quietly on the carpeted area to read books about ants.

SUPLEMENTARY MATERIALS, HANDOUTS: See Appendix 1

Engagement		Time: 5 minutes_______
What the Teacher Will Do	Probing Questions	Student Responses Potential Misconceptions
Today class we are going to role play how ants work together to get their food into their nest.	What animals crawl in a tunnel?	[Ants, snakes, moles, rabbits and worms.]
	Why do they crawl in tunnels?	[For safety, to rest, and to eat.]
	What do you think ants eat?	[Grasshoppers, caterpillars, crackers, dead bugs.]

Exploration		Time: 25 minutes______
What the Teacher Will Do	Probing Questions	Student Responses Potential Misconceptions
You will be working with your “buddy”. Does everyone know who their “buddy” is?		[Yes!]
Once you and your “buddy” have captured the caterpillar, you must work your way through these tunnels to get the food into your chamber.	Has anyone ever seen ants carrying a caterpillar or some other food that was much larger than the ant?	[Yes!](Students have observed ants in previous lessons.)
Now remember, you must be very careful when you are crawling through the tunnels so that no one gets hurts.
As each groups goes I want the other groups to form a line. But you must be very quiet when you are waiting for your turn.
When you are through please have a seat in the carpeted area.
Teacher demonstrates activity.	Does anyone have any questions about what you are to do?	[No!]

Explanation		Time: 10 minutes________
What the Teacher Will Do	Probing Questions	Student Responses Potential Misconceptions
As groups have finished participating in the role play, have them sit in the carpeted area to read books about ants.
Once the whole class has finished the role play, have students remain in the carpeted area.
	What do ants eat?
The feeding behavior of ants varies depending on the species. The common brown ant that is part of this lesson eats scraps of food from our houses as well as dead insects, and nectar from flowers.
	Why do ants work together?
Just as you guys worked together to pull the caterpillar into the nest, ants also must work together. Even though ants are very strong, it sometimes takes more than one ant to carry large food such as a caterpillar.
	Why do ants have nests?
Ants dig tunnels and chambers in the earth to build their home. The ant piles the dirt, which it removes from its tunnels, in a neat mound at the entrance. Ants store their food in these nests to keep it away from enemy ants.

Elaboration		Time: 5 minutes_______
What the Teacher Will Do	Probing Questions	Student Responses Potential Misconceptions
Continue to have students sit in the carpeted area.	What did you do to move the caterpillar?	We caught it and then pulled it and dragged it through the tunnels.
	How did you help your “buddy”?	We both took one end of the caterpillar and helped to move it through the tunnels.
	How did you feel as you were moving the caterpillar through the tunnel?	It was hard to move through the chairs.
	Ensure that all students participate in discussion.

Evaluation		Time: 15 minutes____
What the Teacher Will Do	Probing Questions	Student Responses Potential Misconceptions
Ask students to return to their desks. Have them create a story through pictures and words about what they have learned today.	What did you learn about ants today?
Stories and pictures will be bound together to form an Ant Book for the whole class.
Teacher will also evaluate students by listening for descriptive language, explanations, responses and questions through the lesson.