Feeding Frenzy

Welcome to the land of Mangia Mangia. In this society, there are very strict rules regarding eating. Each person is assigned an eating utensil based on birth order. Since all eat at one time and rotate food selection, it is important that each become proficient at using his/her assigned utensil. At dinner, each family member takes a turn selecting one dinner item from the common bowl and placing this item into his/her individual cup. Any four items are sufficient for all the daily needs of an individual.

In the table below, you will keep track of how you and your family are able to get the needed food for several days.

Day

/

Family Member Names and Utensils

1
2
3
4

Questions:

  1. What happened when the variety of food changed and the time was limited?
  1. Which utensil was best adapted to getting the food provided?
  1. In nature, the environment can change so that certain organisms have a harder time getting food. What would happen to a population of organisms that couldn’t make use of the food available?
  1. Think of an example of how the environment might change, making it harder for a population of organisms to obtain the food they need.
  1. In what ways do you think this activity is a model for animal adaptations?

(Teacher Instructions)

This activity should be directed by the teacher.

Materials:

Food materials: beans, yarn or string pieces, cotton balls, rice, pasta, buttons, sponge pieces. (choose 6 types and have 5 of each)

Eating Utensils: skewers, toothpicks, spoons, forks, clothespins, chopsticks

Cups

Split the class into groups of 4 or 5

Review the rules of the society

Day 1 - Instruct the students to begin distributing the food for the first dinner, according to these rules:

Every one takes a turn (based on birth order, of course). Individuals rotate and there is no time limit.

Have them record in their data tables how much food each person was able to get.

Day 2 – Instruct them to distribute food for the second dinner, according to these rules:

A blight has occurred, wiping out the crops of yarn and cotton balls. There is still enough food of other types, and there is no time limit.

Have them record in their data tables how much food each person was able to get.

Day 3 - Instruct them to distribute food for the second dinner, according to these rules:

Because of the limited amount of food, people are now more impatient, and each person only has 5 seconds to select a meal item before losing his/her turn.

Have them record in their data tables how much food each person was able to get.

Day 4 – Instruct them to distribute food for the second dinner, according to these rules:

The society has suffered a severe famine – the rules of eating are no longer adhered to. People now take food simultaneously (but only with the assigned utensil).