The Plasticine Caterpillar Experiment is a investigative lesson designed by SUNY ESF Master’s student Wendy Leuenberger that allows students to investigate science ‘in the field’ and integrate NGSS science practices in an authentic research experience. Students create life-like caterpillars from plasticine to investigate predation by birds, small mammals, and invertebrates. After developing their own questions and experimental design, students make and then glue their caterpillars to vegetation for short time periods. The fake caterpillars retain identifiable marks (beak, teeth, mandible imprints) following predator attack and so serve as an engaging tool to assess relative predation rates by birds, small mammals, and invertebrates.
