INTRODUCTION

 NEEDS ASSESSMENT:
 

      The reasons for the development of Insect Antics: A Thematic Unit on Ants, are manifold. First, this unit is designed to meet the needs of  teachers who want  to introduce their students to the study of insects in a way that recognizes the multiple intelligences present in the classroom. Although the unit is based in science, it also integrates learning activities derived from social science, art, language arts, music appreciation, and health in order to provide multiple learning opportunities for students. This unit is specifically designed to incorporate multiple approaches to the study of ant morphology and social habits. The holistic integration of science concepts with concepts from other areas of study are structured to recognize the fact that while individual students have different learning styles-----all students can learn.

 
    Second, the focus of this unit on ants is designed to satisfy an educational need to familiarize students with the diversity of life inherent in the natural sciences. The study of ant morphology and habits provides an excellent introduction to the diverse world of insects and offers students a reference point from which other inquiries into life science may be pursued. The unit provides an educational springboard for further study of other orders within the class Insecta.

    In particular, this unit is designed to foster students' understanding of how the world of ants is similar to the world in which they, as humans, live. The study of ant social habits also provides a useful model for the demonsration of the kinds of cooperative student interactions that are often necessary for effective classroom management.This aspect of the unit is also designed to provide students with opportunities for increased self-awareness, and addresses the need for educational experiences which promote the higher order thinking skills necessary for both academic and personal growth.

    This unit is also designed to provide students with the skills necessary to facilitate these inquiries by encouraging self-directed learning, hands-on learning activities, and research skills. As an information resource which is increasingly expanding its utility as a research tool, and which requires hands-on interactions, the internet is integral to this unit. Use of the internet in this unit addresses the need for students to engage in current research techniques and promotes self-directed learning in order to convey to students that they can be one of the best educational resources.

WHY THIS UNIT IS NEEDED:

     Research in the field of curriculum theory suggests that students have greater academic success when they are afforded opportunites to become more actively engaged in the learning process. Too often students are expected to simply memorize and regurgitate the information that is presented to them, with little or no active engagement in the learning process. The unit on ants is designed to meet a need for educational opportunities that allow students to be actively engaged in their own learning. This unit re-inforces the concepts presented in the content material by offering students direct opportunites to observe the focus of their study. The unit on ants requires real-life observations of ant populations in their naturally occuring habitats, in addition to providing students with a classroom-based living model of an ant community.

    This unit is designed for third year elementary school students studying in multi-disciplinary classes. While the unit is based in  science, it is also designed to incorporate other disciplines such as social science, art, health, and the language arts. Consequently, teachers may also apply parts of this unit to further student knowledge in more specialized areas of study. This unit is also applicable to learning disabled students who might benefit from its emphasis on hands-on learning, and the various approaches to content mastery.

          This unit is based on the philosophy that providing students with interdisciplinary approach to the study of ants and allowing them to be active participants in the learning process, will facilitate their understanding of the content material. The emphasis this unit places on recognizing that students may exhibit this understanding in different ways is inspired by Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. While this does not preclude standards of assessment for content mastery, emphasis is placed on nurturing the diverse ways that individual students can demonstrate their understanding of the material while developing their individual intelligences.

the recognition and development of multiple intelligences within the classroom

the academic and personal growth of students

a student-centered approach to content mastery that encourages self-directed learning

a demonstratable and measurable understanding of the morphology and habits of ant communities

an awareness of the diversity and similarity between ant and human populations

students' understanding of social concepts such as community and cooperation

exposure to current research techniques

It must be added that it is also hoped that this unit will achieve these goals without sacrificing one of the greatest incentives to successful student learning----fun.