CLEVER WOODLICE!

Woodlice are common, little, grey creatures. They are found in large
numbers beneath rocks and stones or under piles of dead leaves
and grass. They prefer to live in dark, damp places, safe and out of
sight.
Woodlice are supper intelligent! They know how to choose dark, damp, safe places, and
they know what is best to do when they have to make choices.

ASSIGNMENT
PREPARATION
1. Build a simple T-choice maze, following instructions
2. Read the instructions for how to do the investigation
3. Decide a hypothesis, write it down and justify why you have decided on this hypothesis
ACTION
Using your simple T-choice maze, investigate how the woodlice behave, recording the results in the
results table.
CONCLUSION & EVALUATION
1. Write down whether you support or reject your hypothesis, and write an explanation.
2. Write down three things which were not well done in your investigation and how you could
improve the investigation.

1. MAKING THE MAZE

Cut out and around the template and construct the T-choice maze, according to the
instructions. The woodlice will walk up the channel and make a first turn to the left or right.
They continue walking and a short distance later, they will have to make another choice,
left or right. This second choice is what we are interested in.

2. WHAT DO YOU WANT THE WOODLICE TO DO?

Encourage the woodlice to walk up the first part of the maze. When they reach the end
(the T junction), they may go either to the left or right. The woodlice will then continue on
their way, before coming to a second choice, left or right. What will they do now? That is
the BIG question!

Will they turn the same way as previously (ie left and left again, or right and right
again) all will they alternate (left and then right or right and then left)?
3. HYPOTHESIS
1) Write a hypothesis statement, saying what you think the woodlice will do for their
second choice.
.
.
.
2) Write a few, short sentences which justify your choice of hypothesis.

4. ACTION
Conduct the investigation with maybe 10 woodlice. If you have time for more, even better! Record
all your results in the RESULTS TABLE.

5. RESULTS
RESULTS TABLE

Trial#

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

First choice: Left (L) or

Right (R)

Second choice (L or R)

Write a if the
second choice was
the same as the first,
or an if the
second choice
was different to
the first

TOTALS
What was the total number of woodlice tested?

What number of woodlice made the same second turn choice as their first
choice? (Add the 's in the last column of the results table.)

What number of woodlice made a different second turn choice? (Add the 's)

What percentage of woodlice made the same second turn choice?

What percentage of woodlice made a different second turn choice?

6. CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION

1) CONCLUSION

Look back at your hypothesis and results and now write whether the hypothesis is
supported or rejected.
The hypothesis is (supported or rejected)

2) EVALUATION

Write down three aspects of your investigation which were not satisfactory things you
did not do well or properly
i.

ii.

iii.

Write down three ways in which you might improve the way in which the investigation
could be done.
i.

ii.

iii.

7. VERY SHORT SPOKEN PRESENTATION

After everything is finished, you will be asked to make a short very short spoken
presentation about what you did. You will need to talk about:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Your hypothesis and the reason for deciding on this hypothesis

The number of woodlice you experimented with
Your results
Your conclusions
The problems you faced and how you could overcome them