Print a student data collection sheet for each student to record data. NOTE: Students will work in groups of three for this activity. For any given round, one student will forage, one student will record data and another student will run the stopwatch.
Choose a location for the foraging activity to take place. An open field is ideal for this activity but a hallway will suffice provided another location is not available.
Label four five-gallon buckets as A, B, C and Average.
Fill each bucket with 15 to 30 pounds of rice. Make sure the amount of rice is the same in each bucket.
For the bucket labeled A mix in six pinto beans. This represents the low prey density.
For the bucket labeled B mix in 16 pinto beans. This represents the medium prey density.
For the bucket labeled C mix in 26 pinto beans. This represents the high prey density.
Finally, for the bucket labeled average mix in 16 pinto beans. This represents the average prey density.
To distribute the buckets, place buckets A and average at the start of the foraging area five paces apart from each other.
Walk 25 paces away from the first two buckets and place bucket C.
Then walk 10 paces to the right or left of C and place the final bucket, B.
Place an empty cup next to each bucket – these will stay with the bucket, and the instructor must mix the pinto beans back into the rice after each forager has finished the course. NOTE: The average bucket should always be placed at the start but for variety or convenience the buckets can be arranged in different ways or at different distances or prey items and numbers can be varied.