How do bees and other insects fly? How does this relate to bird flight and human flight? (A BeeSpace Education inquiry unit)
Jim Buell
(jbuell@uiuc.edu)
(not ready to use)
Coauthors
ASK
Subject Areas
Rationale of the Unit
| Birds and insects are nature's pre-eminent fliers; humans achieved flight mechanically only in the past century, and there are numerous other animals and fish that have some flying or gliding capability. What are the physics of flight in various species? How is flight thought to have evolved in various species? Why is flight a useful adaptation for various species? This inquiry unit collects the results of a web search I conducted seeking answers to questions like these. It also serves as the initial draft for a set of inquiry-based lesson plans that might be suitable for late middle school or early high school biology classes. (Different linked articles for reading/discussion/summarizing could be substituted to make this activity suitable for groups of higher/lower ages and varied abilities.) |
Background and Resources
Activities and Open-ended problems
ACTIVITY 1
read the articles linked above
ACTIVITY 2
seek out additional articles via a web search
ACTIVITY 3
write a summary of what you have learned about flight from this inquiry, referencing information from several of the articles you have read
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Dialogues, Discussions, and Presentations
DIALOGUES
talk with a partner about what you've learned; identify two or three especially controversial topics from the reading
DISCUSSIONS
discuss or debate as a group several of the most controversial topics suggested in the pairwork; support arguments with examples both from the common reading, and from other readings your group has found on this topic
PRESENTATIONS
work with two or three others to prepare a 15-minute talk, with slides, about a particular aspect of flight you find especially interesting |
Assessment, Related Questions, and Story of the Unit
ASSESSMENT
take notes on classmates' talks; write a summary reflection about a flight-related topic (different from than the one you presented on), including information gleaned from reading, others' talks, and/or group discussion
RELATED QUESTIONS
does this inquiry lead you to think differently about any aspects of flight?
STORY OF THE UNIT
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