Learning in Minnows Begins in the Egg! An ADI Lesson in Animal Behavior and Science Practices

Abstract

When does learning begin in animals? How do animal behavior researchers know if animals have learned? How can we collect data by observing behavior? These are questions answered in this learning unit produced by the Animal Behavior Lab at Ball State University. Two activities are offered to teachers that address the Science and Engineer Practices and Disciplinary Core Ideas about information processing, social behavior and adaptations at the middle and high school levels. The lessons are based on research into the learning of predator avoidance in minnows that takes place before the embryos hatch from the egg. Lessons include a group activity to simulate social learning in fish, and a student investigation using the Argument Driven Inquiry model. Learners use all eight of the Practices to think about video-based stories about the research on minnow embryos, and plan the data collection for their own investigation using real videos of fish embryos. Lessons described in the article are available at no cost using links included in the article. The authors describe the activities with some background on the development of the lessons and links to access teacher materials, student handouts, and embedded videos in the ADI unit.