You talkin' to me?: Investigations in animal behavior

The main objective of this lesson plan is to teach students how to develop and conduct scientific investigations of animal behavior. Students are first introduced to aspects of animal behavior such as animal communication and adaptation using a videotape and an interactive game. The lab exercise that follows takes an inquiry approach to teaching key concepts and is designed to span several days. Students develop their own investigations of animal behavior using crickets and conduct experiments in groups. Formative assessment is conducted throughout the lesson through class discussions. Summative assessment is through multiple worksheets and the final poster.