In the first part of this two-part activity, students will create habitats for an ant colony and observe their colony for a period of several days.
- Create habitats
- Design experiments
In the first part of this two-part activity, students will create habitats for an ant colony and observe their colony for a period of several days. As they make their observations, they will analyze their data and draw conclusions about the behavior and environmental preferences of the ants. In the second part of the lab, students will design their own experiments and follow an inquiry-based investigation style in order to draw conclusions about ant behavior. The kit includes a WARD’S Scientific Method Poster, an Ant Anatomy Poster, enough materials for ten setups, a teacher’s guide, and a student copymaster. Note: Coupon included for perishable materials. Redeem by mail, fax, phone, or e-mail.
Ordering information: Activity contents include 1 Suction tube aspirator, 1 Cork borer, 1 Roll of masking tape, 1 Black construction paper, 1 Vinyl tubing (10'), 1 Bag of potting soil (8 lbs.), 1 WARD’S Scientific Method poster, 10 Clear deli containers with lids, 8 Hand magnifiers, 15 Pipets, 1 Bucket of fine grain (white) sand (10 lbs.), 4 Packages of mixed grain sand, and 1 Coupon redeemable for 10 Vials of harvester ants.
Materials needed but not provided are a pail or large container (for mixing sand and soil) and a small container with lid (for collected ants).
Time Requirement: Part I Sample experiment: 20 minutes (with at least 3-4 days of observation). Part II: Designed Experiment - 30 minutes (with at least 7 days of observation).
