Hopper Circus


Purpose: To observe living things influenced by a variety of stimuli
Season: Summer, Fall
Materials:
  1. Box with lid for each team
  2. Grasshoppers or crickets (Catch these at Miller Springs)
TEKS: 2.2A thur F    2.3A,B    2.6D     2.8A    2.9A
Procedure: You may want to do these activities as a group or you might want to give each team an activity card.

Activity 1

  • How does a hopper hop?
  • Closely observe a hopper as it hops and try to figure out how it hops.
  • What parts of its body does a hopper use to hop?


Activity 2

  • Which way does a hopper like to hop most--uphill, across hill, or downhill?
  • Choose a gently sloped area.
  • Try facing the hopper in different directions.
  • Be sure to test three or four animals.

Activity 3

  • Do hoppers seem to hop better in sunlight or shade?
  • Test several hoppers to find out.
  • What happens in flashing light?
  • Use a box with a lid. (A shoe box will work well.) . Put some hoppers into the box and close the lid. Keep it closed for a minute and open the lid quickly to see if the hoppers react to the light. What do they do? Record your observations. Repeat the test several times.

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