1997 WWLPT Biology Institute:  Life Cycles:  Reproduction & Embryological Development

 
 

 
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  by Jacquin Mcneill 
 

  THE EMBRYO GAME


Summary/Abstract
Instructor's Objectives
Target Age or Ability Group Audience
Teacher Instructions/Special Precautions
Materials & Equipment Needs
Background [Prior Knowledge or vocabulary necessary to complete activity]
The Student Lab
Method of Evaluation/Assessment
Extension/Reinforcement/Additional Ideas
 


Summary/Abstract  to top
     EMBRYO is a game similar to BINGO which can be developed by the teacher or by the students.  Enclosed are examples of players cards that can be used and a list of organisms that can be studied.  Facts about the organisms are determined by the teacher and written on individual cards. Someone is designated as "the caller".  He will pick up one chip at a time and call out the name of the organism, the letter and the number.    The players will place a chip on their card in the appropriate column.  The first player to get five chips in a straight or diagonal line and yell," EMBRYO!" is the winner.
 
 

Instructor's Objectives to top

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Target Audience or Age Group  to top  to top

Notes to the Teacher: to top

            Student groups will consist of two players per card.
            One period will be needed for preparation by the teacher and by the students for
            creating EMBRYO cards (50 - 55 minutes)
            The game is structured to be played in one class period
            Reference books and computers with internet can be used
 
 


Materials & Equipment Needs to top
     1.) laminated cards with embryological facts
     2.) chips or Bingo magic markers
     3.)  master card for the caller
     4.)  numbered chips for the caller
     5.) instruction sheet

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Background to top
     Students need to comprehend and distinguish between the following terms: meiosis
     mitosis, asexual, sexual, fertilization, yolk, gestation, embryo, etc. The content depends
     upon the type of class.

The Student Gameto top
Introduction :   This game is very similar to the game of Bingo.
Purpose :         To compare the reproduction and embryo development of different organisms
Equipment :      Embryo cards, chips or Bingo markers, and a caller's card that can be
                         constructed from information on the BINGO cards.
 

Procedure :      Each group of two students should choose a card entitled EMBRYO with
                        the names of six different organisms and a hand full of chips or a Bingo magic
                        marker.  After a few minutes of observing the organisms listed and the
                        characteristics of their embryonic stages, the game begins.  The caller picks
                        a chip at random, calls out the letter , the number and the name of the
                        organism.  The players look on their card as quickly as possible for the called
                        number and the organism and place the chips accordingly.  As soon as the
                        players have five characteristics covered with chips or marked (they must be
                        consecutively in a diagonal or straight row) they must yell EMBRYO!
                        The caller will then recognize the potential winner and give them a chance
                        to call out the letter, the number of the organism, and the characteristics of
                        its reproductive and embryonic stages.  If they are correct ,they are the winners!
                        If they are not the winners, the game continues until a winner is proclaimed.
                        The teacher,  as well as the class, will observe the winners reciting the
                        characteristics orally.  Cooperative learning takes place.
Conclusion:      1.) Use your science vocabulary to describe the embryology reproduction of at least
                             five organisms.
                        2.) Name a distinguishing factor  of an organism that  you have studied.

 
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Extension/Reinforcement/Additional Ideas to top
Listed below are examples of EMBRYO cards for the players and EMBRYO chips for
the caller. Students will be allowed to make their own EMBRYO cards and columns can be added.
CARD#1
 E M B R Y O
ELEPHANT MONKEY BAT RABBIT FREE OWL
1.GESTATION 630 - 660 DAYS 165 DAYS 180 DAYS 30-36 DAYS S 21 DAYS
2. # OF NEWBORN ONE /YR ONE/YR ONE OR TWO/YR THREE LITTERS/YR P UP TO THREE
3.REPRODUCTION SEXUAL SEXUAL  
 		 SEXUAL SEXUAL O SEXUAL
4.NAME OF NEW CALF YOUNG YOUNG  YOUNG 
 		 T YOUNG
5.UNIQUENESS TRUNK@ 3 months SUCKLES YOUNG SPERM STORED IN FEMALE HAIRLESS AT BIRTH S NOCTURNAL
 
 
CARD #2 E M B R Y O 
 
ELK MOUSE BOBCAT RAT YUCCA OYSTER
1. #of  off-spring  one/twins 4 -7 2 -3 6 - 7/litter approx.100 500,000 eggs
2. Name of offspring Calf Pinkies Cubs Baby Rats Seedlings Spat
3. Birth season May - June Every 20-30 days Spring 3-6 litters/yr Spring Spring
4. Appearance of young Smaller than adult Pink skin/no fur Light coat Pink/ no fur  Green, flower less  Sessile Adults
5. Unique characteristic Annual male anthers  Born with eyes closed Nocturnal New born blind, deaf Yucca moth Pollination Only young swims
 
 
CARD #3 E M B R Y O
  FREE MOUNTAIN GOAT BOLL WEEVIL ROBIN YAK OPOSSUM
1.Gestation S 6 months 
 		 3 weeks 3 weeks 280 days 16 days
2.Number new born P Single birth/twins 100 3 - 5 single birth 5 - 20
3.Maternal behavior O Suckles young Lays eggs Incubates eggs Suckles young Carries babies in pouch
4.Stages/names T Billies-Nannies  Eggs-Grubs Chick Bulls-cows Pinkies
5.Uniqueness S Lives alone until mating Eats buds of cotton plant female feeds young  Mates at  3 yrs-adult at 8 yrs Nocturnal
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SAMPLES
 
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References Including Web Addresses to top

to top Barruel,Paul,Birds of The World
                Oxford University Press, England, 1973.

         Eltringham,S.K.,The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Elephants.
                Salamander Books Limited,New York,1991.

          Hickman,Cleveland, General Zoology
               William C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa,1993.

          Street, Phillip,Animal Reproduction
                Taplinger Publishing Co. Inc., New York,1974.

         Hinton, H.E., Mongooses, Their Natural History And Behavior
                University of California Press,1973.
 
         Short, Will, The Giant Book of Games
                 B And P Publishing Company Inc.,1991.

         Whittaker, John.The World Book Encyclopedia
               World Book Inc., Chicago,1994.

          Click here to learn more about elephant reproduction.