Super Bees Science Lesson Plan, Thematic Unit, Activity, Worksheet, or Biology or Chemistry Teaching Idea

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This is a good lesson to use at the beginning of the unit as an opening activity.

Conceptual Objective
Students will understand the concepts of population, population size, and natural selection. Hence, they will recognize the reason why some populations spread rapidly while others die off.

Process Objective
Students will complete five segments of the videodisk, Super Bees, answering various questions throughout. They will also work in groups to develop a hypothesis regarding how the Africanized bees have been able to spread so rapidly in the Americas.

Materials
* Super Bees videodisk (perhaps available on VHS also?)
* videodisk player
* television

Procedure
1. Explain to students that the problem posed in this module asks: How and why have Africanized bees been able to spread so rapidly in the Americas?
2. Play Segment 1: Introducing the Problem.
3. Ask for student input on why the bees have been so successful, within only a few years, in spreading north through Central America and into the United States.
4. Play Segment 2: Populations.
5. Ask students how different populations might affect each other.
6. Play Segment 3: Population size.
7. Ask students to consider what would happen if a population had few or no predators, and discuss.
8. Play Segment 4: Natural Selection.
9. Explore, with students, some of the traits that help animals survive.
10. Separate class into groups of four children. Have them come up with answers to the question posed a the beginning of the lesson.
11. Play Segment 5: The Solution.
12. Discuss and compare the solution presented in the video with the ideas that students came up with.

Evaluation
1. Did student watch and listen to the videodisk? Did he actively participate in the class discussion? Assess the child's behavior and participation during the lesson.
2. Did student work well in cooperative groups? Did they show respect for others in their choices? Did they participate in developing answers to the question? Assess the child's work in small groups.
3. Did student come up with relevant and realistic solutions to the problem? Assess the quality and thoughtfulness of each group's hypothesis.

Troubleshooting
1. Students may not be able to see the videodisk clearly from their seat, so teacher may need to re-situate the room to make viewing easier.
2. Segment 3 uses a clue of a dead deer. Teacher should use discretion as to whether or not this is appropriate for the class.

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