Guide 9B Societies
Resources
Additional activities, a behind-the-scenes gallery, recommended books, and more.
About this Guide
Biology is a Picnic
Mark and I spent our graduate student years partly in the physical sciences. Mark researched wood products and that involved a great deal of chemistry; I was teaching chemistry and physics. But we had undergraduate degrees and field experience in biology, so it was inevitable we would be drawn back to the amazing ecosystems and organisms we started with. Thats not to say we like all biology topics equally. The great thing about co-teaching, is that it’s likely if one of us isn’t keen on a topic; the other thinks its fantastic. There is plenty to love in the life sciences, and every day teaching really is a picnic.
Lesley
Additional Activities
Build a Farm
Well, the ants will actually do most of the work. Ants can be purchased through the mail in many regions, and only the sterile worker females are shipped to avoid accidental introduction into the wild. Ants are not typically long-lived, but with care, primarily maintaining moisture while avoiding mold, you can extend their adult life span considerably.
Social Animals
Many of the tropical bird species kept as pets flock in large numbers in a wild. Even if they pair bond and separate from the large group for breeding, they often rejoin the group at other times. Most birds kept as pets retain many behavioral (and structural) traits as their wild ancestors. This leads to a conflict: bird owners want to keep their often long-lived pets as healthy and comfortable as possible, but birds are expensive, sometimes loud, and not always socialized with other birds prior to adoption. A bird can be a significant commitment and assistance from enthusiasts, clubs, and online communities may yield helpful information and support.
Behind-the-Scenes
On the Dock of the Bay
Mark is using a special housing that stabilizes a tablet (in this case an iPad) for video. We are moving to a gimbal system for stability instead, but since we are usually both videoing at the same time, everything gets used.
Wildlife Refuges
We are incredibly lucky to have refuges for Dusky Canada Geese to the north and south of where we live. There are numerous other species that live in these large habitats, making our job taking photos and videos for class a lot easier.
Recommended Books
This is a classic: you will never look at ants the same way again.
Native art features salmon and other migratory animals, and resonates with people who still live by the seasons.
A collection of interesting stories with an especially good illustrator.
Build a Library
Whether its digital or print, collect resources that assist in exploring, describing, and explaining the natural world.
Societies Product Page
Complete this guide’s products before advancing on to the next guide
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Module 9 overview
This Guide
9B: Societies