These are the first two questions your group will answer over the next four weeks while we will be studying the behavior of ants. Your study will begin by looking at some ant colonies around school to help you answer the two questions above. In answering these two questions, we will familiarize ourselves with some general aspects of the colony's behavior as well as the procedure for asking and answering scientific questions. After you collect enough data to find the answers for the questions that I have asked you to study, we will discuss your group's findings and compare your group's data to the other groups' in the class to see if everyone's data are similar or different.

Your group will have one more class period to further observe your ant colony. During this time, your group must come up with one question that you would like to answer through designing and carrying out an experiment. You will have time to do library research to help focus your question. You will then finalize your question and make a testable hypothesis as to possible explanations for the behavior you are studying. Then, your group will design an experiment to test your hypothesis and each member of the group will collect and help analyze data.

After I okay your procedures and materials, you will be able to begin your experiment. You will collect data and then return to class to analyze the data and make conclusions. After you are finished answering your question, you will present what you learned about ant behavior to the class.