Project Description
I created this lesson plan for a High School Science class around the NPR story From Fruit Fly To Stink Eye: Searching For Anger's Animal Roots. My lesson plan was nominated to be published on Listenwise.
Subject/Grade: Science/High School
Story Synopsis: What does comedian Lewis Black have in common with fruit flies? Whether on stage or in the wild, they both seem to be good at acting angry. Scientists say that aggressive behavior and biological responses across species look more similar than you might think. Listen to this story to learn about the animal roots of one of our powerful emotions with a bad reputation—anger.
Before Listening
Activate student knowledge
Open class by showing students this short video clip of Lewis Black’s stand-up comedy http://www.cc.com/video-clips/w04ul2/comedy-central-presents-sunblock. Ask students how they think Black feels in the video, and discuss how they were able to identify his emotions.
Introduce the story
Comedian Lewis Black’s performances are full of anger—he leans forward, gestures violently and shouts. To scientists, Black’s display of anger is remarkably similar to the aggressive behavior displayed by animals, including fruit flies. Listen to this audio story to learn about the animal roots of human anger.
During Listening
Active listening organizer
The Signs of Anger chart organizer will help guide student listening as they take notes on how humans and animals show their anger.
Complete the chart by listing what behavioral and biological signs different species display when they get angry.
| Species | Signs of anger |
| Humans | |
| Fruit flies | |
| Cats | |
| Squirrels |
Listening Comprehension Questions:
What are examples of aggressive behavior in fruit flies?
What is the definition of anger, according to Professor Anderson?
How can anger be useful, according to comedian Lewis Black?
What physical responses usually occur when humans or animals get angry?
What is the main difference between humans and animals with regards to anger?
After Listening
Reflect on the story
Take time for student reflection on the audio story and discussion questions to check for understanding. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of anger for animals and humans. Ask students why it is important for humans to control emotions like anger, and then brainstorm tactics for dealing with anger as a group.
Classroom Discussion Questions:
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of anger for humans and animals? Why?
What do you do when you get angry, and how could we use Black’s “million-dollar tip” in our own lives?
Paired Text
Use the Psychology Today article on Animal Anger: An evolutionary approach to anger surges and relief (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/201705/animal-anger) to pair with this audio story. Invite students to reflect on a time they felt themselves get angry, and what could have caused that anger. Can they see what provoked their anger from an animal perspective? Did they control the anger, and if not what would they have done differently in order to control it?
Additional Resources
Vocabulary:
aggression (noun)–hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook
neurobiologist (noun)–one who studies cells of the nervous system and the organization of these cells into functional circuits that process information and mediate behavior
emotion (noun)–a conscious mental reaction (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling, which is usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body
bystander (noun)–someone who is present at an event or incident but does not take part
testosterone (noun)–a steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics, produced mainly in the testes, but also in the ovaries and adrenal cortex
empathize (verb)–to understand and share the feelings of another
Literature/Curriculum Connections:
Animal Farm, George Orwell
Lab Girl, Hope Jahren
Online Materials:
Paired text: Animal Anger, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/201705/animal-anger
Audio story: Got Anger? Trying Naming it to Tame it, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/01/28/688180879/got-anger-try-naming-it-to-tame-it
Video: Lewis Black - Sunblock, http://www.cc.com/video-clips/w04ul2/comedy-central-presents-sunblock
Article: Fighting Fruit Flies: Aggressive behavior influenced by previous interactions, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191202102107.htm