Vampire Bat Lesson: Story of the Bloody Suckers (Grades 4-6)

Summary:

This lesson plan incorporates a video that NATURE did called BLOODY SUCKERS. Its not only a lesson plan for vampire bats, but also explores animals such as leaches. It poses the question, are these bloody suckers friend or foe?

THE TRIAL OF THE BLOODY SUCKER:

Subject: Life Science, Geography
Grade Level: 4-6

We really enjoyed this lesson plan from NATURE because it uses video to help introduce the topic at hand. Here is a short overview from the BLOODY SUCKERS LESSON PLAN:

"The NATURE episode BLOODY SUCKERS investigates the
organisms that live off the blood of others. Some of the organisms are
painted as being dangerous and harmful. Others are painted as being
beneficial. This presents a quandary for students to explore: Are
bloody suckers friend or foe? Applying a problem-based approach,
students use what they learn from the program and Web-based research to
explore this question and to stage a trial: Their teacher has been
accused of being a bloody sucker, and it's the students' job to play
the roles of prosecutor, defense, expert witnesses, and jurors. After
the trial, students explain why they agree or disagree with the final
verdict and the points raised by the prosecution and defense in a one
to two page paper"

For more information visit this site: BLOODY SUCKERS LESSON PLAN:

To watch the short video clip on NATURE visit this site: BLOODY SUCKERS EPISODE ON VAMPIRE BATS.