Animals versus people: Who's the better navigator?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/02/g912/animalpeople.html
A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science and Social Studies
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore animal navigation and compare animal to human navigational capabilities. Activities in this lesson engage students in online learning, cooperative group work, and creation of a final project using technology.
Students will:
- read and discuss an article on animal navigation;
- brainstorm the ways that people navigate innately, without using equipment, and compare human to animal navigation;
- research and discuss methods of human navigation; and
- create brochures for an adventure travel company, describing how customers will use their innate navigational skills to find their way if they get lost in the wilderness.
Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, and links to helpful web resources and related activities.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 9–12 — Biology
- Goal 4: The learner will develop an understanding of the unity and diversity of life.
- Objective 4.05: Analyze the broad patterns of animal behavior as adaptations to the environment.
- Innate behavior.
- Learned behavior.
- Social behavior.
- Objective 4.05: Analyze the broad patterns of animal behavior as adaptations to the environment.
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 11–12 — Geography
- Goal 3: The learner will use maps and other geographic tools, such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to identify, describe, and interpret major international travel patterns as related to the United States.
- Objective 3.01: Demonstrate an understanding of the various types of thematic maps.
- Objective 3.02: Demonstrate a working knowledge of GIS and other map-making tools.
