{"id":563,"date":"2010-04-26T11:30:13","date_gmt":"2010-04-26T15:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wnet\/humanspark\/?p=563"},"modified":"2011-04-29T12:07:10","modified_gmt":"2011-04-29T16:07:10","slug":"being-human-lesson-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wnet\/humanspark\/uncategorized\/being-human-lesson-activities\/563\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introductory Activity<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Explain that in today\u2019s lesson students will explore what makes us human. Ask each student to think of one word to answer the question \u201cWhat makes us human?\u201d and to write that word down on a sheet of paper. Once everyone has written a word, ask the students to hold up their words to reveal them to the rest of the class. Ask for volunteers to discuss their word choices.<\/li>\n
  2. Divide students into pairs or small groups. Assign each group an animal. Ask each group to write down similarities and differences between humans and the group\u2019s assigned species. Encourage each group to list at least 5 ways humans differ from that animal, as well as five similarities. Some possible animals to include are: ant, bird, cat, chimpanzee, dog, fish, lion, monkey, parrot, snake.<\/li>\n
  3. Once groups have completed their lists, ask students to share their thoughts with the rest of the class. \u00a0Create a two-column list with similarities in one column and differences in another. Write down all the similarities and differences the students describe.<\/li>\n
  4. Once all the groups have shared their thoughts, look over the list with your students and ask them to identify the main ways humans differ from most of the species on the list. \u00a0Create a new list detailing the ways humans differ from other species. Discuss the list and ask the students if they want to add any additional traits to the list.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Learning Activity 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    1. Ask students which animal they think is the most similar to human beings. Let students know that one species which is very closely linked to us is the chimpanzee, with 99% of its genetic makeup being the same as in humans. Explain that humans and chimpanzees also share a common ancestor.<\/li>\n
    2. Let students know they will be watching a video segment from the PBS program, The Human Spark<\/em><\/strong>, which compares the thought processes of humans and chimpanzees. Ask students to discuss how they think human and chimpanzee thoughts might be similar and how they might be different.<\/li>\n
    3. After students have shared their thoughts, explain that you are going to play a video segment featuring Daniel Povinelli, the Director of the Cognitive Evolution Center at the University of Louisiana, who conducts research with human children and chimpanzees. Ask students to identify what Povinelli believes are similarities and differences between the ways humans and chimpanzees think.<\/li>\n
    4. Play Human vs. Chimp Thinking.<\/span> After playing the segment, ask students to discuss what Povinelli believes are similarities and differences between the ways humans and chimpanzees think.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Possible points to include in the discussion:<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n