I teach in a colony of artists. Ours is a public charter school that requires an application and multiple forms of auditions. Not only are there academic requirements, but also some form of performance specific to one of our fourteen artistic conservatories. These students are amazingly talented and also bright, diverse, tolerant, and empathetic. They have often been pushed to the margins of a traditional public school, but here they are accepted and celebrated by other artistic thinkers with high expectations for themselves and their community. They truly want to be here at this school and in my elective course; this makes a huge difference and leads to enormous amounts of effort and drive.
My Project
Much information about animals can be gleaned from the bones they leave behind. After a year of studying the behavior, evolution, anatomy, and physiology of the major phyla of the Kingdom Animalia, I would like to challenge my students to analyze vertebrate skulls for evidence and discussion of these concepts. Due to our physical location, my students are familiar with coyotes. They are able to make connections to their own family dog pets and we have discussed the infringement of humans upon coyote territory to activate some usable background knowledge. Students will also be cognizant of mammalian characteristics by this point in the school year.
Zoology students will analyze eye orbitals, cranium casing size, auditory bullae, nasal turbinates, and dentition to determine the abilities and behavior of the animal.
As they are all the same species, differences between the skulls will be observed for variation amongst a population and the need for genetic diversity. After this initial activity, student groups will use their skills to analyze a “mystery skull” to determine its habitat, source, and features.
Multiple Zoology classes will utilize these specimens. In addition, they will be used by art conservatory classes such as Animal Drawing and Digital Media for comparative vertebrate studies. With proper care and handling, these coyote skulls will be available to generations of students at our school site for a variety of purposes and curricular applications.
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