Overview & Lesson Sequence

Focus on Standards & Assessment

Materials Needed, Preparation & Planning, Management Strategies

Background Info

Intro Activity
Why Study Predator - Prey interactions?

Activity 2
What makes a predator successful?

Research Project
Designing a predator - prey experiment

Optional Activity
Biological Control vs. Pesticides

Case Study
Rabbits in Australia

References

Glossary

Suppliers

Resource Sheets

Enforcers Home

CISEO Home

Introduction to The Enforcers

Welcome
Insects play a vital role in human ecology. They pollinate our crops, provide food for us and other animals, and compete with us for food and fiber, to name a few examples. Thus, insects are excellent models for the study of key biological concepts such as the interaction between predators and their prey. Understanding predator-prey interactions is integral to understanding population control of pest insects.

The Enforcers is intended to be used as a teacher guide for teachers of students in grades 9-12. The lesson was developed by Arizona high school teachers working together with University of Arizona scientists and Center for Insect Science Education Outreach staff. The Enforcers supports science education reform by providing integrated, hands-on, inquiry-based activities. The lesson begins with two introductory activities followed by an extended research project that students design and conduct themselves. The research project is followed by an optional research activity and a case study.

Please note that The Enforcers has been pre-tested in two teacher classrooms, but has not been fully pilot-tested in classrooms throughout the United States. Hence the preparation, planning, and activity times may be inaccurate.