FUTUREFIT PROJECT – ZOMBIE ANTS! HOW TO USE THIS TEACHING GUIDE • Prepare (2-5 minutes): Short opening activities to start class. • Present (5-20 minutes): Deliver new subject material and project information, and to model instructions or activity • Produce (5-30 Minutes): Use this portion of the lesson to allow students to work independently or in small groups on activities and other project elements. • Participate (5-30 Minutes): Use this portion of the lesson to allow students to share out any project, research or presentation materials. • Practice (5-30 minutes): Use this optional portion of the lesson, if desired, to give students homework activities. DAY 1 PREPARE 5-8 Minutes Show the students a vintage sci-fi trailer, such as “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.” Explain that they will be making a sci-fi or horror movie using stop motion animation to make a movie about zombie ants. • The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms Video PRESENT 10 Minutes Review parasitic relationships and introduce the "Zombie Ants" phenomenon by handing out the attached articles, which can be printed or read online, and showing the video. Explain project: In groups of 3-4, students will use stop motion animation to create a 2-3 minute sci-fi horror movie about the parasitic relationship between the fungus and the ants. • • • Zombie Fungus Enslaves Only Its Favorite Ant Brains - (LiveScience article) Fungus Makes Zombie Ants Do All the Work (Scientific American article) Zombie Ants Video PRODUCE 10 Minutes Have students read The Fungus that Turns Ants into Zombies article, underlining and or taking notes on useful information they can incorporate into their animation. Notes can be entered into a Google Sheet, Word document, or graphic organizer. • • The Fungus that Turns Ants into Zombies (Readorium article) KWL Chart - Animals PARTICIPATE 10-15 Minutes In groups of 3-4, students should decide on the following and record it in the Story Map graphic organizer, or in a Google Sheet, Word document, or other format. • Title and setting of their movie • Storyline Materials needed (Legos, model magic, figurines, puppets, illustrations taped to craft sticks, etc.) • Story Map Graphic Organizer • PRACTICE 10 Minutes Students should use independent time to brainstorm ideas for their stop-motion movies. DAY 2 PREPARE 5 Minutes Show students the "Pollination Lesson" animated video as an example of a good stop-motion animation concept. • Pollination Lesson Animated Video PRESENT 5-8 Minutes Review the relationship between the ants and the fungus using the articles distributed in Day 1, and discuss the habitat of the organisms and the type of symbiotic relationship between them. • • • Zombie Fungus Enslaves Only Its Favorite Ant Brains - (LiveScience article) Fungus Makes Zombie Ants Do All the Work (Scientific American article) The Fungus that Turns Ants into Zombies (Readorium article) PRODUCE 5-8 Minutes Based on the reading and class material, have students make a list of biotic and abiotic factors found in the ecosystem inhabited by the ants and the fungus. PARTICIPATE 20 Minutes In their groups, students should begin preparing and practicing with the materials for their stop-motion projects. If necessary, familiarize yourself and your students with the concept of stop-motion animation using the Makerspace for Education tutorial below. • Create a background on 11” x 17” paper (cardstock preferred) or a tri-fold presentation foamboard, oriented horizontally, suggest that the students keep the background simple so it does not distract from the story Create their cast using the materials suggested on Day 1 Practice their story with the cast and background Practice using the Stop Motion Studio app • • Makerspace for Education Stop-Motion Tutorial Stop Motion Studio App (Free version, iOS/Android/Windows) • • • PRACTICE 10-30 Minutes If students have technology available at home, they should practice using the Stop Motion Studio. If they do not have technology at home, print and hand out the Makerspace Stop Motion Animation tutorial. • • Makerspace for Education Stop-Motion Tutorial Stop Motion Studio App (Free version, iOS/Android/Windows) DAY 3 PREPARE 5 Minutes Write on board, whiteboard, or project the following question: "How is a 'mind-altering' parasite, such as the fungus that infects the ant, different form more typical parasites, like tapeworms or ticks?" Ask students to write down 2-3 differences. If a refresher on symbiotic relationships is necessary, print or project the Symbiotic Relationships handout. • What Are Symbiotic Relationships? PRESENT 5-10 Minutes Explain the process of creating the stop motion animation (refer to the Makerspace for Education Tutorial, if necessary). If necessary, model the use of the Stop Motion Studio app, and capture process, using simple props and background. Students should follow these simple guidelines: • iPad needs to stay in the same position the entire time Only move the scene’s objects and characters slightly between photos The more pictures taken during the capture process, the better the final animation will be • • Makerspace for Education Stop-Motion Tutorial Stop Motion Studio App (Free version, iOS/Android/Windows) • • PRODUCE 5 Minutes Students should use this time to set up backgrounds, make sure apps/smartphones are working, and prepare characters. PARTICIPATE 25 Minutes In groups, students work on producing their stop-motion animations. • Stop Motion Studio App (Free version, iOS/Android/Windows) PRACTICE 10 Minutes Have students complete the How Living Things Interact worksheet. • How Do Living Things Interact? DAY 4 PREPARE 5 Minutes Discuss: In most parasitic relationships, it is not advantageous for the parasite to kill the host. Why is this relationship with the ant and the fungus different? PRESENT 5 Minutes Remind students of their objectives for the project: to tell the story of the mind-altering fungus and its host in a sci-fi/horror style stop-motion animation. Encourage students to be creative, yet accurate with the characteristics of the relationship between host and parasite. PRODUCE 5 Minutes Students can use this time to make an advertisement for their film to pass out to the other groups. Optionally, you can use this time to have students reset their backgrounds, materials, etc. • PARTICIPATE 25 Minutes In groups, students complete the production and editing of their stop motion animation. • Stop Motion Studio App (Free version, iOS/Android/Windows) PRACTICE 10 Minutes Using the online resource Factmonster.com or the textbook, ask students to research and name 3 common parasite that infect humans. Possible examples: • Hookworm Scabies mite Roundworm Flatworm Tapeworm Pinworm Toxoplasma Giardia • Factmonster Online Reference • • • • • • • DAY 5 PREPARE 5 Minutes Discuss with students: Based on the research they completed the previous evening about human parasites, what is the most common organ that human parasites infect? PRESENT 5 Minutes Explain that students will present their stop-motion animations to the class. PARTICIPATE 25 Minutes Students present their Zombie Ants movie to the class. • Stop Motion Studio App (Free version, iOS/Android/Windows) PRODUCE 5 Minutes Have students make a simple "public health" brochure for ants, warning them about the dangers of mind-controlling fungus and how to avoid getting infected. PRACTICE 10 Minutes Ask (or assign) students to choose another “mind controlling” parasitic relationship to research online, using the Zombie Snails, Bees, and Mice?! worksheet. • Zombie Snails, Bees and Mice?! Worksheet
