While watching the video tape, students use a stop watch to record the amount of time during each of the activities that they were engaged in feeding. Class data is recorded and bar graphed with number of tooth picks collected vs. the amount of time spent feeding for each of the three trials. The energy cost of food handling and predator avoidance is then calculated. In viewing the video tape, students immediately recognize themselves as behaving like a flock of birds. Discussion focuses around how students located a food source, how communication was involved in locating a food source, the energy cost of food handling, how flocking is related to predator avoidance and how this behavior relates to natural selection.
Laboratory reports by individuals or cooperative groups.