ZOOLOGY PROJECT – BIOLOGY II - JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
As part of the zoology unit this quarter & part of next:
Everyone on the team will help keep a journal in regards to their animal(s). The journal will have important information in it in regards to the purchasing of animals/supplies; feeding schedule; foods required; births/deaths, normal behavior & abnormal behavior; etc. It will be recorded in a separate folder that will remain in the classroom.
This is to ensure that the proper care is being administered equally among team members as well as to record what normal behavior is for that animal. The care and record keeping of your animal will be part of your semester grade, along with the team’s ability to get along with each other for the common good of the animal(s). Your journal will be collected and graded before the end of each quarter. Both an individual grade and group grade will be earned. If there is a conflict –TALK TO ME!
ORGANIZING YOUR JOURNAL/NOTEBOOK: (divide up the duties):
- Cover: Decorate/ label the cover so everyone knows which animals it belongs to.
Also, put everyone’s name on the front cover so I know whose it is.
- First page : General information page . Research this!! animals names (common & scientific name). Write a paragraph about the animals in general. Are they rodents, amphibians, reptiles, etc. Describe traits of their Class, Order & Family? Any thing of interest historical or otherwise can go here.
Second page : Food page . Foods required; quantity; how often do the animals eat; who’s feeding on what day; where is the food & who’s buying or bringing it in & what about week-ends and holidays? A list of the days of the week along with the person feeding that day would be great. A list of holiday & school days off is also needed along with who is responsible for the care of the animal that break. If the animal is staying at school, say so.
Third page: Cleaning page . Make a chart. Write down who is cleaning the cage or aquarium and how often it needs to be done. Make a column for date, name, and comments
–such as changed bedding, washed out water bottle.
Fourth page : Equipment page. List all the equipment needed to sustain this animal.
Include the size tank needed. Next to each piece of equipment note where it is coming from. If it’s the school’s - say so. If Jimmy bought or brought it in, say so. We do not want disagreement at the end of the semester or year. Also, who is going to take the animals at the end of the semester or year?
Fifth page: Finance/Budget.
Make a list of what was bought, how much it cost & who paid for it. All group members are expected to equally share in the expense.
Sixth page: Health concerns . Research the diseases that the animals may get and list them here along with the cures. Also describe any safety issues that humans may have with this particular animal . Do the animals bite? If so, what do you do? Does their skin or habitat have the potential of spreading disease – how so.
Seventh page: Growth . Measure your animal weekly. Take length and mass measurements. Make a chart with date, length, mass and comments.
Eighth page on: Baseline Behavior pages. Watch your animal(s)objectively 2-3xs per week for 5-10 minutes. Record factual, unbiased behavior. For instance : the goldfish swam in a straight line from the left side of the tank to the right side and back 5xs in 2 minutes. (not – the fish went crazy). Make sure everyone on your team agrees on the behavior and terms to use in regards to it. Record the date and time that the behavior is being monitored . Take turns watching and recording & put your initials after your observations.
If someone is absent, be sure that someone takes her/his place!!