Mr. Derek Newsome’s Biology students are diving deep into their unit question:
“How do ecosystems work, and how can understanding them help us protect them?”
Today, they explored how predators interact with the wildebeest migration by investigating the role of predators in this incredible natural event. Students:
🦓 Read about the behaviors of wildebeest and their predators
🎮 Modeled predator-prey interactions through an agent-based simulation game
📊 Analyzed their data to discover that group behaviors increase survival for both predators and prey
They also discussed the limits of their models and reflected on how including more components could lead to richer, more realistic conclusions.
Through this investigation, students learned that:
✅ Animal behaviors can inform the rules of scientific models
✅ Mathematical models and algorithms provide evidence for explaining interactions
✅ Patterns in group behavior can be seen across many species
✅ Every model has limitations that shape what we can conclude from our data
Science in action at Paintsville High School! 💙🐾 #TigerPride #STEMLearning #BiologyInAction #Ecosystems