...Another fun twist on things is to experiment with different foods. I've done this before, and it's a great way to introduce the sciencey word "hypothesize," or the sciencey phrase "make a prediction." Using a marker, draw lines on a paper plate, dividing the plate visually into four sections. Then, put tiny bits of a different kind of food in each section. Let children hypothesize ( or make a prediction) about which of the four foods they believe the ants will be most attracted to, and then graph their opinions on a chart. What does the majority of the class think? After observing the ants, refer to the chart and see if their findings were correct. Then let the children discuss the possible reasons why or why not.
(Sung to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)
"Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Abdomen
Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Abdomen
Six legs, sometimes wings, an exoskeleton,
Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Abdomen."