Background Information

My second grade class will be studying the senses during March and April. We will be examining human senses through a number of books and activities. After students have a good understanding of human senses, we will experience the world as would cats and dogs, using the procedure outlined in the online simulation activity entitled "Sensory Worlds". Next, we will study senses in arthropods through several children's books and perform the online activity entitled "Foraging Behavior at Picnics: The Ants' View". I would like to end the study by having my students examine ants using the Bugscope, focusing specifically on ant sensory structures (antennae, eyes, and mouthparts).

Specimens To Be Collected and Viewed

Ants

Follow-Up Activities and Discussion After Viewing Session

Anticipated follow-up activities include discussion of viewing session and viewing of captured images, as well as the evaluation activity outlined below.

Evaluation

Student understanding of concepts and structures involving arthropod senses will be assessed by a writing assignment in which each student selects an ant colony caste representative (i.e. king, queen or worker) and discusses their life including what they sense, how they go about sensing it, and why that sense is important for them and their colony.