Hopper Circus

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In this outdoor activity and/or field trip, learners investigate the behavior of hopping animals. Learners collect crickets, grasshoppers, frogs, and/or beach hoppers, to observe their behaviors in response to various stimuli. If a field trip can't be scheduled, and no hoppers can be easily collected outdoors near the learning site, hoppers such as crickets can be obtained from a pet store.

Quick Guide

Learning Time:
1 to 2 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
$10 - $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Field Trip
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • half-gallon milk carton
  • small hoppers
  • 4 more half-gallon milk cartons with flap
  • 4 milk-carton halves
  • 4 rubber bands that fit around milk carton
  • clear plastic wrap
  • 4 meter tapes
  • 2 sticks
  • 3 meters of string
  • large or small nets (depending on hopper size)
  • 2 sheets of Sideshow Cards (in PDF)
  • 2 to 3 copies of each Sideshow Card

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations

Informal Categories

  • Animals
  • Nature and Environment
  • Outdoor Activity
  • Physical Activity

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • be mobile
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, The Regents of the University of California, 1981