Fellow name: Gloria C.

Preza Title of Lesson: The Amazing Superworm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zophobas_morio_larva_-_top_%28aka%29.jpg Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Tenebrionidae Genus: Zophobas Species: Z. morio School: Emerson Middle School Grade Level: 7th Life Science Summary This is a multi-part lesson and activity that introduces the characteristics of living things, the necessities of life and includes a scientific experiment in which students learn to apply the scientific method using superworms as an animal model. This is a fun activity that requires the students to take data over a long period of time and allows them to gather, analyze and present their results. In what way is your lesson/activity inquiry-based? This lesson is inquiry based because it includes an activity where the students develop a hypothesis and test it. The students record and analyze data. As a class they construct a poster to display the study.

Time Required Day 1: Introduction of Characteristics of living things. 1.0 hr Day 2: The Bare Necessities of Life 1.0 hr Day 3: The Amazing Superworm 30 min Day4 end: Data acquisition, analysis and poster set up Taking data only requires about 5-10 minutes each day. The poster set up is a good exercise to implement during Science Fair time it gives the students practice on organizing a scientific poster. Group Size entire class Cost to implement $1.06/student Superworms: $5.99/ 50 superworms Gummi Worms: $4.99/ Max pack Habitat: Plastic container with sections: $5.99 (walmart) Food: Carrots, wheat germ: $4.59 Light source: Lamp fixture ($13.97) with heat bulb ($4.97): $20 (Petco) Learning Objectives With this lesson, students should be able to: Distinguish between living and non-living. Understand what is needed to maintain life. Apply the scientific method to answer a question about a living organism. Introduction / Motivation Day 1: Introduction of Characteristics of living things In this introduction the students are confronted with a problem, is it alive or not? As a class describe and discuss the 6 characteristics of life: Cells Respond to stimuli Reproduce DNA Energy Grow and Develop The activity introduces the superworm, the students compare it to a gummi worm and give evidence to support if the organism is living or not. The students should address each characteristic and even though they cant test each thing they should write down how they would obtain the information. For example, take tissue observe under the microscope to see cell structures, develop an experiment to see if the organisms

respond to stimuli etc. This is an opportunity for the students to develop and think how they can prove scientifically if an organism is living. Give them the handout Is it alive? Day 2: The Bare Necessities of life In this section discuss with the students the things that are needed to sustain life. Water Air Habitat Food Let the students set up a living habitat for the superworms. (Keep them together. Do not section them off or they will undergo metamorphosis. They should be kept in a container where they are in contact with each other.) Give the students background information about the superworm, what is it? What it needs to live? Give them the handout: The Bare Necessities

Day 3: Effects of larva size and temperature on the rate of pupation. Give the students the handout. This title sounds very scientific so discuss with the students what this means. The students can come up with their own title. The students are now ready to set up an experiment. Go over the handout with the students. This section is very open to teacher and student participation. The handout asks a very specific question but, as a class you can develop another question to ask. Take into consideration how the students will collect data, i.e. measuring, observation etc.

Discuss with the students the steps of the scientific method as they apply to the experiment at hand specifically, the controls, variables (independent, dependent) and collection of data. Procedure See above for each day. Materials List To share with the entire class: superworms, food and habitat Safety Issues Superworms may pinch; students can wear gloves when handling them. Lesson Closure Close lesson by having the students address each of the steps in the scientific method. The students work in groups to develop each section of the poster. Each group should understand each section but is responsible for one section. At the end the students displayed their poster in the School Science Fair. Is this lesson based upon or modified from existing materials? If yes, please specify source(s) and explain how related: No References Characteristics of life: http://library.thinkquest.org/C003763/pdf/origin06.pdf Facts about superworms: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Superworm Attachments Its Alive ppt and handout The bare necessities ppt and handout Superworm handout: Effect of size and temperature on rate of pupation List CA Science Standards addressed California Science: (2009) 1a, 1e, 7a-e