Courtship

Bowerbirds

In Biology, for the past few weeks, we have been learning about intraspecific relationships in animals. Intra-specific relationships are interactions among organisms of the same species. An example of this is courtship. Courtship can be described as mate-selection rituals. Animal courtship may involve complicated dances or touching, vocalisations, visual displays of beauty or fighting prowess or via chemical production. Courtship rituals are species specific. Even closely related species have different courtship behaviours. This ensures that energy is not wasted on interspecific mating. Generally, the male of the species initiates the courtship and the female selects the male based on his performance. Performing a display allows the male to present his traits or abilities to a female, allowing her to select the best mate in terms of strength, size, plumage etc. An example of courtship in animal is making bowers in bowerbird. Bowerbirds craft nest-like structures known as bowers, and decorate them with attention-getting items. During the mating season, females are attracted to males that build bowers because these structures provide them protection. The most elaborately decorated bower took more energy and resourcefulness of the male bird, suggesting a greater 'fitness' as a potential mate. This male is more likely to at least qualify food and nest resources and have an increased chance of reproductive success and therefore past those best genes in the next generation

 

hehe enjoy this video 

The Fairness or Justice Approach

For the past few days, in health, we have been learning about ethical approaches. Today, we constructed a hero using a playdoh using our ethical issue. We chose the fairness or justice approach. 

The Fairness (or Justice) Approach states "Treat people the same unless there are morally relevant differences between them." 

• Fair and equitable distribution of good and harm, and/or the social benefits and and social costs, across people in society.

• Fairness requires consistency in the way people are treated. 

• The principle states: TO BE FAIR TO ALL (is ethical) - Social Justice = to be ethical the outcome needs to be fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory.

This is our hero called 'Koro'. Our hero Koro demonstrate a judge. A judge looks at the evidence and reasoning of both people present in the court fairly. The judge's job is to serve justice by rendering a fair impartial decision on the issue.

Potatools :)

We've been learning about hominins for a few weeks now: habit,  skeletal features, diet, and so on. This week, we learned about the stone tools that were used during the evolution of bipedalism, when the freeing of the hands allowed them to make and use simple tools. These tools enabled our forefathers to gain access to protein-rich food sources.

Today, we made these tools using just potatoes and a knife.