Exploring Ethograms in the Schoolyard: A Lesson on Animal Behavior.

ABSTRACT This article highlights a core lesson that has been used in a number of Lincoln Park Zoo educational programs. The lesson teaches students to conduct an ethological, or animal behavior, study on a bird. This study can be implemented in a variety of outdoor settings, including a park, schoolyard, or zoo. Using an ethogram, students will practice inquiry skills such as making observations, collecting and analyzing data, and sharing results. This type of inquiry-based research is commonly conducted at Lincoln Park Zoo and allows students to make a connection between their work and that of our practicing researchers. Furthermore, this lesson supports the recommendations of the National Research Council by providing students with an opportunity to engage in scientific inquiry and to utilize research skills in an outdoor setting.