Instructional Video

The Bombardier Beetle And Its Crazy Chemical Cannon

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Named for the soldiers who operated artillery cannons, the bombardier beetle operates a cannon of its own. The video explains how it sets off a chemical reaction creating a small explosion they can aim at a predator. The evolution of the defense system confused scientists for many years, but now research is finally explaining the process.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Add exaptation to pupils' science journals and vocabulary lists
Classroom Considerations
  • Relies on some prior knowledge of evolution
  • Pre-teach what an enzyme is so scholars understand the references
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Includes the full text of the video for those without Internet connection
  • Video's short length means it doesn't take up much class time
Cons
  • None