6th Grade · Science · Activity · shared by Luke Morgan
This 6th Grade Science activity explores animal heat production and calorimetry, comparing heat from hamsters, mice, lizards, and goldfish.
Case Study: The Energy of Small Creatures
How do different animals manage their internal energy? In this activity, you will examine data from a modern-day recreation of historical experiments to see how body size and activity level change the way animals produce heat.
Scientists at the Riverside Biology Center wanted to compare how different small animals use energy. They used a device called a calorimeter to measure the heat released by four specific subjects: a dwarf hamster , a common goldfish , a house mouse , and a small lizard . The team also included a local veterinarian to ensure the animals remained safe, and a data analyst to record the results. The facility manager provided the specialized equipment for the study. By measuring the amount of ice that melted into water, the team could calculate the thermal energy produced by each animal.
The results showed a clear difference between the groups. The house mouse and the dwarf hamster are mammals, which means they are warm-blooded. These two animals produced a constant and high amount of heat even when the room was cold. In contrast, the lizard and the goldfish are cold-blooded. Their heat production was very low and changed based on the temperature of the water or air around them. The team observed that the house mouse produced 15% more heat than the hamster because the mouse was much more active during the test. The lizard produced the least amount of heat because its internal "burning" process, or respiration, is much slower than a mammal’s process. These findings help us understand how different species survive in various environments.
📋 Student Worksheet: Case Study Analysis
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________
📖 CASE OVERVIEW
Case Title: The Energy of Small Creatures