Anthony P. Solli
Time:
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One period
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Materials:
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Bee, toothpicks, quickdrying glue, cotton balls
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For teacher:
It is suggested that a quickdrying cement be used for gluing a bee onto a toothpick. You can either use rubber cement or the model airplane glue used for gluing pieces of balsa wood. Bees will react very sluggishly when put in cold temperatures. As the temperature warms up, the bees become much more active. When the feet of a bee are not touching anything, its wings will flap. As soon as the feet touch something, the bee stops flapping its wings. This is a reflex action.
For student:
Dip the broad end of a toothpick into some quickdrying glue. Then touch the glue to the back of a bee which has been chilled so that it is not active.
Record your observations of the bee’s behavior as it warms up.
Record your observations of the behavior of the bee as it is held in different positions, such as upside down, on its side, right side up, and head down.
Record your observations of the behavior of the bee as its feet touch a ball of cotton.