Jane Goodall Chimp Group Behavior Research Data Analysis CER Writing

In this activity, your high school biology students will analyze real chimpanzee research data from Jane Goodall's Gombe Stream study to construct evidence-based arguments about how group behavior affects individual survival and reproduction (NGSS HS-LS2-8).

This is not a worksheet about animal behavior. Students work like field scientists: distinguishing observations from inferences, reading authentic data tables, and building Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) arguments from Goodall's actual longitudinal research.

What's Included (13 pages + Teacher Guide + Answer Key):

• Academic/Honors Version: open-ended analysis + 3 CER tasks + honors extensions
• Scaffolded Version: sentence stems, simplified text, ELL and IEP-ready
• Detailed Teacher Guide: 2 complete lesson plans, differentiation guide, grading recommendations, common student errors
• Complete Answer Key with sample strong responses

Three Data-Driven Scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Cooperative Hunting - students analyze hunt success rate vs. meat-per-chimp data
• Scenario 2: Grooming Networks - students evaluate correlation vs. causation in reproductive success data
• Scenario 3: Orphan Adoption - students apply kin selection reasoning to survival rate data

Flexible for Any Schedule:

• 25 minutes: Part 1 standalone NOS mini-lesson
• 1 period: Part 1 + one scenario
• 2 periods: full investigation
• Sub-plan ready: Parts 1 and 2 are fully self-guided

Standards Aligned:

• NGSS HS-LS2-8: Group Behavior and Survival
• SEP: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
• SEP: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
• CCC: Cause and Effect
• CCC: Patterns

This resource works best: After natural selection, as a bridge into ecology, at the end of an evolution unit, or within an ecology unit. Also works as a standalone sub plan for on-grade and below-grade biology classes.

Check out the preview below 👇🏻