Name: Date

Area: Animal Behavior

Job: Observing Taxis and Kinesis
Situation:
This lesson is the second in a unit about animal behavior. The first day, students set up
their lab notebook. They have discussed key words including: Taxis, Kinesis,
orientation, etc.

Connections:
Science: Scientific method, lab procedures
Math: Calculating mean/averages, utilizing graphs and tables
English: communicating observations through writing.
Standards:
ANSC.07.01.a List and describe types of animal behavior
ANSC.07.01.c Summarize how behavioral activities affect animal wellbeing,
productivity, and profitability
Targets/Questions/Objectives:
- Students will describe how manipulating an animals environment can change
its behavior through writing in their lab notebooks.
- Students will infer how manipulation of animal behavior impacts animal
producers in the agriculture industry through class discussion.
Materials Needed:
- Pillbugs/Rolly Pollies
- Behavior Tray
- Stopwatch/smartphone
- Tape
- Markers
- Lab Notebook,
- Pencil
- Additional Stimuli
- CASE Activity 3.2.1 Response to Environment
Plan of Action (time included):
BEGINNING(7 min): Students have already done the set up for this lab so they will
jump right into the experiment when they get into the classroom.
Write up on the board: “Animal Science: Get with your lab partner/group and gather
the following materials:
1. Behavior Tray (up front)
2. 10 Pillbugs (back counter)
3. 1 smartphone or stopwatch.”
Ask students to complete Part I of CASE 3.2.1. Students observe pillbugs in trays for 4
minutes. They should record all observations in their lab notebooks.

MIDDLE(35 min): Before starting, go over how to calculate averages with the class.
Students now place 5 pillbugs on either side of the behavior tray and observe how
many are on each side each minute for 10 minutes. At the conclusion, Students will
calculate the average number of pillbugs over the 10 minutes and record. We will
calculate the class average together.
Next, Each group must chose 1 new stimulus to add to one side of the behavior tray.
They must form a hypothesis about what the pillbugs will do. Go over hypothesis If
Then form with class.
Ex. “If I place a paper over side B of the behavior tray to create shade, then, more
pillbugs will move toward that side.
END (10 min): Go over conclusion questions in CASE 3.2.1. with class. These questions
should be answered in their lab notebook in paragraph form. See assessment plan.
Knowledge/Skills/Dispositions targeted on this lesson
- Know major terms: orientation, taxis, kinesis, stimuli (K)
- Calculate average (S)
- Utilize lab notebook (S)
- Hypothesize
-

Assessment Plan-What did students learn? How do you know?

Students learned how to effectively set up a lab (hypothesize, etc), evaluate by
checking lab notebooks for completion/quality.
Students learned that changing an animal’s environment can have a direct effect on
its behavior. This will be evaluated by checking written observations in lab
notebooks.
Students learned how this experience relates to management of livestock in
the ag industry. Assess this through formative discussions with small student
groups and the whole class. (This should be used as class closure)
Attached:
 Content
 Activity
 Assessment
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