TEACHER GUIDE

TOPICS:  Evolution, animal adaptations, behavior

LEVEL:  Middle or high school

TIME:  15 min for pre-activity discussion, one period for field work, 15 min to collate class data.

ADVANCE PREPARATION:  Prior discussion of the activity with the class is necessary to complete the field work in one period.  You may wish to make transparencies of footprints of northern mammals to use in discussion of predictions and questions .

MATERIALS: Snowshoes may be available from area nature centers, high school or college athletic departments, cooperative extension agencies, military installations, or local power companies .

PREDICTIONS: In class discussion, encourage creative, logical, and critical thinking. We recommend that you introduce the following ideas if they are not suggested by students:  Deep fluffy snow favors big feet or snowshoes; boots are favored in thin or wet snow.  The effect of crusty snow, deep wet snow, or thin fluffy snow is variable.  Student predictions will depend on their perception of local snow conditions .

PROCEDURE: Students sometimes are so convinced that snowshoes will be better under all snow conditions that they ignore or misinterpret contradictory data. Emphasize to students that it is entirely possible that wearing snowshoes will result in shorter distances than boots for some or all students .

STEP A: Students should work in groups of two for this activity.  A large area such as the athletic field should be used.  Be careful not to trample the snow on the field prior to the activity .

STEP F: Emphasize to students that they are measuring the difference between the boot and snowshoe path; the start stake is NOT involved in any measurement.

QUESTIONS 2-7 require higher order thinking skills.  We recommend that you to discuss these questions in class before having students write out their answers. You may wish to review the concept of a "fair test" for question 6 .

2-3. Answers will vary. Make sure that students do not ignore or misinterpret contradictory data (see Procedure note above) .

4. Students with snowshoes are expected to have an advantage in deep fluffy snow.  Under these conditions, snowshoes increase the surface area of the feet, reducing the depth to which the body sinks in the snow and the energy required for forward motion.  In thin wet snow, students in boots may do as well or better than snowshoes .

5. Answers will vary.  Snowshoe hare have big feet and are found in northern U.S. and Canada where snow is usually thicker and dryer (more fluffy).  Cottontail rabbits have smaller feet and a more southern distribution, where snow is usually thinner, wetter and less persistent .

6. The first trail is made when students are rested; the second trail is made after tiring exercise.  For a fair test, the level of tiredness should be equal for students in boots and snowshoes .

7. Answers will vary.  The purpose of this question is to encourage students to generalize their results .

CLASS DATA SHEET: Have students write their name and distance between stakes under the appropriate heading. Depending on snow conditions, snowshoes or boots may be clearly advantageous. If distances are about equal, snowshoes offer little advantage over boots.