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This activity (page 2 of the PDF under SciGirls Activity: Horse Ears) is a full inquiry investigation into animal behavior and communication. Groups of learners will fashion a headband with fake ears, similar in shape to those of the animal they are going to observe. Then, they record observations of the animal’s reactions when a learner, wearing the ears in different positions, brings it a snack. Learners develop categories of behavior to organize and evaluate the results. Safety Note: an adult handler must be present if working with a horse or even a large dog. Relates to linked video, DragonflyTV: Horse Ears.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- fabric to make a headband with animal-shaped ears
- Velcro fasteners
- scissors for cutting fabric
- a notebook
- an appropriate snack for the animal under study
- access to a horse, dog, or cat
Subjects
-
Life Sciences
-
Diversity of Life
- Animals
-
Diversity of Life
-
Mathematics
-
Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
-
Data Analysis and Probability
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- About Inquiry
- Asking Questions
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Animals
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Culture, ethnicity, and gender
-
Girls
- Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
- Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
- Uses inclusive images of people from this group
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Source Collection
- DragonflyTV
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2006
Funding Source:
- National Science Foundation, 436260