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Overview:
One parasite most students will have heard of and many will have seen is the common cat flea. That's the one that pesters our cats and dogs in the United States (the dog flea harasses European pets). In this lesson, students will learn about the flea's life cycle and the reasons fleas are so attracted to our pets. They will conclude by writing a story from the flea's perspective.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, life sciences
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 3: "How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface"
Time:
Two hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
Objectives:
Students will
- define and discuss the term "parasite";
- discuss what they know about fleas;
- visit Web sites to answer questions about fleas;
- discuss the reasons why fleas like pet cats and dogs; and
- write stories pretending they are fleas and describing their lives and their relationships with cats and dogs.
Geographic Skills:
Asking Geographic Questions
Acquiring Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Write these words on the board, and ask students to think about what they have in common: fleas, mosquitoes, leeches, ticks. They may notice that they are all animals that bite or suck blood.
Write the word "parasite" on the board, and explain that the animals listed above are examples of parasites. Provide a definition of parasites: "An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different organism while contributing nothing to the survival of its host" (from the American Heritage Dictionary at Yahoo!). In other words, a parasite enjoys the blood or other offerings of another animal but gives nothing back in return.
Development:
Have students look at this picture of a cat flea. What does it look like up close?
Ask students to describe what they know about fleas. Do their cats and dogs have fleas? How do pets react to fleas? What do people do to keep fleas off their pets?
Have students visit the following Web sites to learn more about fleas. As they go through the sites, have them answer the questions below.
Bug Facts: Fleas
The Common Cat Flea
Featured Creatures: Cat Flea
Questions to answer:
- How high and far can a flea jump?
- How does being able to jump help a flea that's looking for blood?
- Do cat fleas only like cats, or do they like dogs, too?
- What are the stages in a flea's life cycle, and how long does it take a flea to become an adult?
- Why do fleas need to find blood?
- Why do fleas like pets so much?
- What can be done to keep fleas away from pets?
Closing:
Discuss the reasons fleas like cats and dogs. From a flea’s perspective, what's so great about our pets? What do they want?
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students write stories in the first person from the perspective of a flea. They should describe the flea's life cycle, the reasons fleas enjoy the company of cats and dogs, the ways cats, dogs, and people react to fleas, and the ways fleas react to animals and people who are trying to get rid of them.
Extending the Lesson:
Have students research the role of the flea in transmitting the plague that caused the infamous European Black Death. The Black Death Web site will be helpful. Have them create posters or multimedia reports showing what they have learned and highlighting the importance of the flea in transmitting this disease.
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