Animals in Translation
End-of-Unit Project
As we wrap-up our reading and discussion of Animals in Translation, I’d like you to begin thinking about some of the concepts that Temple Grandin has introduced us to on a deeper level. To achieve this, I’m asking you to take on the role of the teacher. You’ll select one topic (see list below) and figure out a way to teach that topic to the rest of the group. Here’s the catch: your lesson needs to be INTERESTING and ENGAGING – in other words, you need to teach us something in a way that we (and you!) will find enjoyable. Make up a game-show, create a graphic-novel, put on a play: figure out a way to teach your concept so that everyone in the room will learn and have fun.
Here are your parameters:
1) Choose a concept from the following list:
Visual v. Verbal Perception
Inattentional Blindness
Triune Brain Theory (Three Brain Theory)
Single-Trait Breeding (and its potential pitfalls)
Selection Pressure
Neoteny
Core Emotions (focus on one or many)
Animal Violence
Pain (and its relation to the brain)
Fear (and its relation to the brain)
Phobias
Hyper-specificity
Animal and Human Cognition
...if you have another topic in mind that you’d like to pursue, please see me.
2) Use Animals in Translation to answer the following questions about your concept:
- What is the concept? Write a brief definition and explanation.
- Whom does your concept apply to or affect? Consider especially animals, autistic people and non-autistic people.
- Why is your concept important?
3) Conduct research outside of the book to get another perspective on your concept. Your lesson MUST include at least one connection to something outside of Animals in Translation. This may include: supporting/contrasting research from another scientific source; a literary or artistic piece that you interpret according to the concept; a real-world example of the concept in action; etc.
4) Create your lesson. This part of the assignment is deliberately broad – I want to see what you come up with! You are, of course, welcome to come to me for ideas and/or feedback, and we will spend SOME time working on the project in class.
