What's Inside the Termite Mound Video

Contributor
American Museum of Natural History
Type Category
Instructional Materials
Types
Animation/Movie
Note
This resource, vetted by NSTA curators, is provided to teachers along with suggested modifications to make it more in line with the vision of the NGSS. While not considered to be “fully aligned,” the resources and expert recommendations provide teachers with concrete examples and expert guidance using the EQuIP rubric to adapted existing resources. Read more here.

Reviews

Description

In this short video, scientists at the American Museum of Natural History explain the role of the different types of termites (queens, kings, workers, and soldiers) that work together to help the termites survive within the termite mound. The importance of termites in the ecosystem is also described.

Intended Audience

- none -
Educational Level
  • Grade 5
  • Grade 4
  • Grade 3
  • Upper Elementary
Language
English
Access Restrictions

Free access - The right to view and/or download material without financial, registration, or excessive advertising barriers.

Performance Expectations

3-LS2-1 Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Clarification Statement: none

Assessment Boundary: none

This resource appears to be designed to build towards this performance expectation, though the resource developer has not explicitly stated so.

Comments about Including the Performance Expectation
Use in conjunction with other videos and resources to gather evidence in order to construct an argument. This should include gathering evidence about various animals and their group behavior, not just termites.

Science and Engineering Practices

This resource appears to be designed to build towards this science and engineering practice, though the resource developer has not explicitly stated so.

Comments about Including the Science and Engineering Practice
Use in conjunction with other lessons, books and videos (including the Insects That Work Together in Groups resource) to gather information from multiple sources about the group behaviors of various animals. This information can be compiled in a class/group chart to compare and contrast the different ways that animals work in groups to survive, then use this information to construct arguments.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

This resource is explicitly designed to build towards this disciplinary core idea.

Comments about Including the Disciplinary Core Idea
The video provides an explicit example of how animals form groups to help them survive. Use in conjunction with other resources so that students have opportunities to gather evidence about many different kinds of insects (and other animals) that work together in groups to increase survival.

Crosscutting Concepts

This resource was not designed to build towards this crosscutting concept, but can be used to build towards it using the suggestions provided below.

Comments about Including the Crosscutting Concept
The teacher can discuss what a system is, then ask students for ideas on what the parts of the termite system are and how they work together.

Resource Quality

  • Alignment to the Dimensions of the NGSS: The video provides an explicit example of the DCI, but the practices and crosscutting concepts are not addressed.

  • Instructional Supports: The video shows students an engaging, real-world scenario, but does not clearly connect to practices or crosscutting concepts. Only one example of animal groups working together is provided. Supports/scaffolding are not provided for all learners.

  • Monitoring Student Progress: No assessments are included.

  • Quality of Technological Interactivity: If internet access and YouTube is available in the classroom, the video will be easily accessible.