Insects are a natural choice for studying behavioral ecology in the classroom--they are easy to obtain, maintain, and manipulate. Unlike competition and predation, however, the concept of group living does not translate well to small-scale experiments involving only a few individuals. How can inquiry be used to examine why animals live in groups?…

Describes an instructional strategy to help students understand behavior variations and the factors related to that variation. Maintains that the technique helps students understand the difference between a statement of association and a hypothesis. Includes a recommended diagram to help implement the strategy. (CFR)