Planning for Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees
Jane Goodall Educators Institute
July 2001
Action Plan Template
Program Title: Gombe Moments: Quick floor demonstrations and activities for use during the Jane Goodall film.
Name: Lynette S. Dean, Director of Exhibit Programs
Information: Cincinnati Museum Center
Museum of Natural History & Science
1301 Western Ave.
Cincinnati Ohio 45203
513-287-7059
513-287-7029 fax
ldean@cincymuseum.org
Program Audience: General museum audience including school groups and family units
Program Overview: The Cincinnati Museum Center has three museum venues: Museum of Natural History & Science, Cincinnati History Museum, and Cinergy Children’s Museum. The Omnimax Theater is in a separate area within CMC. Cincinnati Museum Center will have the Jane Goodall exhibit along with the movie. These demonstrations and activities are designed to capture the attention of visitors as they tour the museum center among the three museums and the JG exhibit. The length of time will be 5 to 10 minutes for each activity/ demonstration. These activities and demonstrations will be generally divided into three groups: Museum of Natural History & Science (MNH&S) for 8 years & up, Cincinnati History Museum (CHM) for 8 years & up, Cinergy Children’s Museum (CCM) for children under 8 years. Each activity is designated by MNH&S, CHM or CCM as an indication of where the activity could be used. Any of these activities can also be done within the Jane Goodall exhibit.
Program Goals:
Gombe Moment Activities
Termite fishing (MNH&S, CCM)
Chimps use a variety of objects to fish for termites. Termites are a good source of protein for them. Locate natural objects such as the inside veins of large leaves. Take several bendable tubes of various lengths and rig the tubing so that it winds around behind a covered mound. Have people fish for sesame or poppy seeds.
Synchronized walking (MNH&S, CCM)
Dominant male chimps walk in together in synchronized steps. Have students/families pair up & synchronize their walk.
Brachiation (MNH&S, CCM)
Many primates are very good at swinging one hand over the other. Set up a rope approximately 5 feet overhead. Set up a 4 x 4 plank of wood underneath. Have the students/families practice swinging hand over hand.
Opposable thumbs (MNH&S, CCM)
One of the characteristics of being a primate is the opposable thumb. What would happen if you didn’t have your thumb? Set up a table with some common tasks: buttoning a shirt, tying a bow, etc. Tape the visitor’s thumb to their palm. Have them do these tasks. Pressure can be added by timing them. If you have extra time you can have a relay race.
Brain capacity (MNH&S)
Set up a display table with skull casts and pop cans. Discuss the concept of brain capacity of Chimps, Humans and ancient ancestors. Chimps brain cap = 1pop can, Lucy = 1 _ and Human = 3 – 4.
Forward facing eyes (MNH&S)
Something that defines primates is the forward facing eyes. Take toilet paper roles and cut the ends at an angle. Put the angled end to your eyes and try to see. Generally, one can see from one or the other eye but not both at once.
Shoot a ball with one eye. (MNH&S, CCM)
Have the visitor try to shoot a basketball with one eye covered. This helps to demonstrate stereoscopic vision.
Strength comparison (MNH&S, CCM)
Chimps are much stronger than humans. Create a display showing what an average adult male can lift compared to what an adult male chimp can lift.
Walk like a chimp (MNH&S, CCM)
Chimps knuckle walk. Have a contest to see who can chimp walk the quickest from point A to point B. Divide by ages.
DNA (MNH&S)
Create a handheld display of the two sets of DNA humans and chimps. We differ by only 1%.
Animal tracks MNH&S)
Have a display of a typical human footprint, Lucy’s footprint, and a chimp’s footprint.
Language
Vocalization chorus (MNH&S, CCM)
Have visitors watch a vocalization chorus by chimps on video. Then have some fun creating a human vocalization chorus. Discuss how we greet each other. This could segway into a discussion of how different human cultures greet each other.
Hello in chimp (MNH&S, CCM)
Using a video show several clips of chimps greeting. Then try it. Again, discuss different human cultures and how we greet each other.
Design of tools (MNH&S, CCM, CHM)
Tool making/use
Many animals use tools to help them in their daily activities, primates are the only group however that can & will make their own tools to help them get food. Chimpanzees will take a leaf & strip off the excess foliage to create a termite “fishing” rod. See termite fishing activity, above.
Not all groups of chimps use the same tools. Some will “fish” while some cannot. It seems to be cultural – passed down from generation to generation. Other tools created are
Hammer/anvil for opening nuts and Sponges for collecting water.
Have different types of material available for the visitor to use. Have them come up with ideas about what the material could be used for. Show pictures of chimps & other primates using tools.
Tool use evolution (human) – have a display set up with the evolution of human tools. This could delve into prehistoric as well as historic tool making.
Observation (MNH&S, CCM, CHM)
One of the most important tools that a scientist has is that of observation. Jane Goodall was not a trained researcher when she began observing chimps in Gombe. There are many activities that can be conducted with visitors of a variety of ages.
Observe what’s around them
Use museum animals, have one visitor observe their behavior & journal every hour.
How many men/women/people in red shirts etc
Play observation Bingo.
Create a bingo card with items to be found in the museum, not necessarily exhibit pieces, but items that may or may not be there, such as a woman with 3 children, a man in a hat, a child in a Pokemon shirt, etc.
Observe in different spots throughout the museum.
Pick one person to observe and follow them, recording your observations, for 15 minutes.
Video observation
An alternative to observing live specimens would be to use video of primates & record you observations. It would be good to have particular things to look for in the video clips.
Memory game with faces (MNH&S, CCM)
Create a memory game using chimp face to match. The facial expressions of the chimps are an important part of their communication skills. Do humans use facial expression to communicate? Do the same game with human faces.
Geography (MNH&S, CCM, CHM)
Set up a table with these items. Use of a globe is good to give visitors an idea of where they are in comparison to Africa. How big is Africa? Place a cut out of the U.S. on top of a picture of Africa. Africa is a continent and Tanzania is a country on that continent. Where is Tanzania?
Rift Valley - discuss the biodiversity of this landform
Lake Tanganyika - discuss the biodiversity of this landform
Rainfall 40-80 inches via thunderstorms
Cultural aspects African people (CCM)
Discuss & demonstrate the cultural aspects of the African people through stories, games & plays. Define what a refugee is.
Research tent (MNH&S, CCM, CHM)
A life-size version of a research tent could be created in one of the museums or in a common area. “Jane Goodall” (an actor doing 1st person interpretation) could be there talking about her work, what it’s like to be a researcher, etc.
Video / slides of Goodall’s work and others (MNH&S, CCM, CHM)
Unmanned video and slide shows could be run anywhere in the museums. Jane Goodall’s 1st husband was a professional photographer & there are some beautiful images that are available for use.
Live remote of primates @ zoo (MNH&S, CCM or common areas)
Work with the local zoo to provide live remote broadcasts of primates into the museum center.
Where were you? (CHM)
Where were you forty years ago? What was happening? Create a timeline on Goodall research & others. Have footage & articles from 40 years ago.