3FN21 – Science – The Ant’s Neck

How do FreeNode lessons work?

FreeNodes are instructor-led schooling lessons with a unique approach, granting you the freedom to independently teach using a personalized lesson plan. This autonomy enables you to tailor your lessons to suit students’ individual needs, learning styles, and interests.

To use a FreeNode, read the provided class outline & follow the formatting provided for each class. Make sure to touch on the Theocratic Connection in each class. Follow the outline closely so it is aligned with our main at-home curriculum.

How Do I Use the FreeNode?

Read this lesson plan before class to familiarize yourself with the ideas and concepts you’ll be teaching the students. You may print this page out if you need to use it as a reference point during live classes.

This lesson is a guide, but feel free to expand on the content or decrease/increase what you teach depending on the learning levels of the students in your class or the amount of time you have to cover the material.

Can I show videos in FN classes?

Yes, feel free to include additional material to supplement the class lesson material. Videos, Physical Objects, Games, Activities, etc. are okay to share in live classes.

Videos should have no advertisements or logos and should be viewed by you before showing them to the students to ensure no offensive or questionable content is included.

The video should make up only 1-3 minutes of the live class and should not take the place of instructor-led instruction. Videos should be supplementary only.

How do bookmarks work?

Bookmarks help you keep track of lessons you’re going to teach in future live classes. The bookmarks you see are for all your bookmarked lessons across all grades.

You can bookmark a lesson by visiting the lesson you want to bookmark and clicking the “bookmark” button in the bookmark section.

You can remove a single bookmark by visiting a lesson you’ve bookmarked and clicking the “bookmark” button again to unbookmark it.

You can clear all of your bookmarks by clicking the “clear all bookmarks” button. Be careful, this will erase all of your bookmarks.

Class Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students will learn about the unique features and “superpowers” of ants, emphasizing Jehovah’s design in creating these remarkable creatures. The lesson will explore the ways ants use their abilities for survival and how scientists draw inspiration from them for robotics.

Materials:

Whiteboard/Chalkboard and markers/chalk
Visual aids (images or videos of different ant species, ant colonies, and their behaviors, if available)
Interactive online resources (optional)

Introduction (5 minutes):

Start with a brief discussion about ants and introduce the main topic: the unique features and abilities Jehovah has given ants. Highlight the diversity of ant species and their roles within colonies.

Theocratic Connections:

Connect the lesson to the appreciation of Jehovah’s creation, emphasizing the wisdom in the design of ants and their superpowers. Mention scriptural examples such as Proverbs 6:6.

Activity 1 – Exploring Ant “Superpowers” (10 minutes):

Show visual aids of different ant species and their superpowers. Discuss the various abilities of ants, such as strength, spraying acid, and unique jaws. Facilitate a discussion on how ants’ abilities are a result of Jehovah’s design. Discuss the uniqueness of each ant “superpower” and how it contributes to the survival of the colony. Explore specific ant species (wood ants, honey pot ants, trap-jaw ants, mound ants) and their unique abilities. Discuss the habitats of these ants and how their abilities help them thrive in specific environments.

Activity 2 – The Ant Neck and Robotics (10 minutes):

Discuss the strength and unique features of an ant’s neck. Highlight the role of the ant’s neck in its ability to carry heavy loads. Introduce the idea that scientists are studying ants’ necks for inspiration in robotics. Discuss how understanding ant movements can lead to more mobile and dexterous robots.

Facilitate a discussion on what students have learned about Jehovah’s design in creating ants. Ask students to reflect on what the abilities of ants teach us about Jehovah’s creative abilities. Emphasize the role of ants in maintaining a balanced and thriving ecosystem.

Conclusion (5 minutes):

Recap the main points about ant “superpowers,” the uniqueness of each species, and the potential applications in robotics. Emphasize the wonder of Jehovah’s creation and the lessons we can learn from ants. Encourage students to appreciate the intricate details in the creation of ants and their unique contributions to the environment.

Assessment:

Evaluate student understanding through class discussions, participation in activities, and reflections on the significance of Jehovah’s design in ants.