Edexcel module 'Behaviour in Humans and Other Animals', Unit B3, Topic 2
Resources
Parental behaviour in nuthatches – Dr Michael Dockery et al. Primarily a resource for AS/A2, but includes some exercises suitable for KS3 and KS4. The text can be downloaded here, but the accompanying DVD is only available by contacting the ASAB Education Officer (cost £3 – cheques payable to 'ASAB').
Stimulus Response – Teachers can obtain a FREE copy of this DVD from the ASAB Education Officer.
Investigations into the behaviour of ants – 2011 Dr Liz Evesham (Mill Hill School). An ASAB resource for those teaching GCSE, AS/A2, Higher and Advanced Higher students of Biology
ASAB Education Newsletter, FEEDBACK
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Click on the relevant issue number, to download copies.
To receive future newsletters, simply email the ASAB Education Officer.
Books
Animal Behaviour for GSCE - £1
Animal Behaviour for AS/A2 – £1
The above books can be purchased from the ASAB Education Officer.
Exercises
Teachers can also find relevant GCSE exercises here and in previous issues of the ASAB Education Newsletter, FEEDBACK.
New resources
Patterns of Life: Moths by Dr Laurence Cook and Dr Michael Dockery and is aimed specifically at the Edexcel GCSE Biology examination. It is a Powerpoint presentation and links aspects of genetics and anti-predatory behaviour by focusing on moths.
How to avoid being eaten by Dr Michael Dockery, Dr Laurence Cook, Nicola Edmonds and Julie Meneely is a resource for students of GCSE Bology, as well as AS/A2 Biology and AS/A2 Psychology. It focuses on the larval stage in the development of peppered moths. It consists of a series of photographs of peppered moth larvae resting on a hawthorn twig against a background of a school protractor so the angle of rest of each larvae can be measured. Suggestions for analysis are provided with some follow up exercises too, plus some suggested answers.
Showing off - the art of communication by Dr Nicola Marples, Mick Hoult and Dr Michael Dockery. This is a powerpoint presentation which focuses on aspects of communication and feeding behaviours. There are also four worksheets to use with students.
These resources are free and available on request from the ASAB Education Officer .
Foraging behaviour of leaf-cutting ants by Richard Bottrill (Head of Biology at Wilmslow High School, Cheshire). This is a new resource for AS/A2/Higher/Advanced Higher Biology and Psychology. The resource has three main elements:
(i) Teachers’ notes with general background information on leaf-cutting ants and suggested answers for all the tasks.
(ii) An investigation into the foraging preferences of leaf-cutting ants. This task is designed for students to collect data by observing DVD film footage of the ants’ behaviour. Students will need to analyse the data using the chi-square test and interpret the outcome in relation to their test statistic. This task also includes ‘How Science Works’ and application of knowledge questions for students to consider aspects of the experimental design and behaviour of leaf-cutting ants.
(iii) Extension activities focusing on two other statistical analyses.
1. ‘Are females better parents than males?’ Students will need to apply the standard error and 95% confidence limits to data collected in an investigation into the parental behaviour of male and female burying beetles.
2. ‘Is there a relationship between the forewing lengths of moths?’ Students will need to apply the Spearman rank correlation test to data collected about the left and right forewing lengths in large yellow underwing moths.
The teacher notes can be sent out FREE as a pdf but a small charge (£2) is made for a copy of the DVD with the film footage. To request the pdf or the DVD simply send an e-mail to the ASAB Education Officer (Charlotte Evans).
Other material
Research Ideas – this article by Jean-Marc Lawton outlines how to carry out the Feeding the ducks study that is listed in the Edexcel specification. The article can be downloaded here.
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