Animal Behavior – Junior Instructor – Middle Spring
$63.63
“I spend a lot of time talking about behaviors in my other classes. After all, they’re some of the flashiest things animals do and make for great video. But in my previous classes, I haven’t had much time to delve into the principles behind them, and that’s just as fascinating. So here’s a whole class on the principles that I’m really looking forward to teaching, based on one of my favorite topics and the prime intersection of my two academic loves: biology and psychology.” ~ Junior Instructor, El the Reptile Overlord
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| Junior Instructor | El the Reptile Overlord |
| Content Levels | Grades 6-7 • Middle School |
| Course Length | 8 Weeks |
| Live Webinars Held On | Fridays, 8:00 - 8:50 AM Pacific - Middle Semester - 3/29/24 - 5/18/24 |
Why do birds sing? How do bees in a hive know where to go? What, if anything, separates us from our closest relatives? Does your cat really love you or do they just want food?
Animal Behavior explores these questions and more about the minds and bodies of the amazing animals we share the planet with: what they do, how they do it, why, and what that implies for them and for us alike. Combining aspects of biology and psychology, animal behavior takes on everything from gnats to giant squid to address some of the most thought-provoking questions facing humankind.
Whether you have questions about the nature of consciousness or just want to know why squirrels keep getting into your bird feeder, this is the class for you.
Note to parents:
- This class is intended for older elementary students, however some reading passages may be more difficult and require adult assistance.
- This course expands on animal behavior from general biology concepts. Information on them will be brief.
- A middle-school level biology course, like Athena’s Biology 101, is highly recommended before taking this course, but is not a prerequisite.
What to expect in the Required section in the classroom each week:
- One or two forums and/or projects.
What to expect in the Highly Suggested & Optional sections in the classroom each week:
- Curated resources, including websites & videos, are provided to excite learners and to add depth to the subject matter.
What to expect during the weekly webinar:
- Weekly webinars are 50 minutes long. Webinars are recorded and are available for students with schedule conflicts.
- Primary instruction and guided discussions are provided during live webinars.
- Active Participation (via the microphone and chat) in online class discussions.
Before taking this course, students should be able to:
- Read at a solid 5th-grade level or above.
- Write a few sentences independently.
Students should be willing to:
- Actively participate (via the microphone) in the class discussion.
- Encourage class discussion by adding their questions/ideas in the chat window during the webinar.
- Respond with positive and encouraging comments on their classmates’ posts in the classroom forums.
Required books & materials:
- Weekly readings will be online, no textbook required.