Banner-Find Out Why Vol 3, No. 2
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Graphic headline: Primate Partners

 

  

 

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You’re a primate—and so are the adults in your life. What do you need to keep you happy? Scientists learn about animals by watching (observing) them closely, and taking careful notes. To do this experiment, you’ll have to make observations like a real scientist. If you watch carefully, you’ll discover what some human primates need to stay active and happy.

 

3. Choose a room that you can turn into a primate habitat. Arrange it so that your adult partner will enjoy living there. What will your partner need? Your notes will help you to make some choices. Which activities did your partner like best? Which foods did he or she choose? Did your partner sit on a soft chair or a hard chair or both?

Remember that all primates need: a place to sleep, a place to play, a place to work, food to eat and water to drink.
Hint: Primates get bored easily, so it is important to have a space that you can change easily. Some zookeepers hide food, so that the primates have to look for it. Other zookeepers put food or favorite toys in a tricky puzzle box, so that the primates have to work hard to get at it. Illustration of boy observing his sister who is seated and reading a newspaper
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You need:

• An adult partner
• Pencil and paper
• 1 clock or watch
• A comfortable room
• Soft, fun, tasty, or interesting items to enrich your primate habitat

 
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1. First thing in the morning, spend 30 minutes watching your grown-up primate partner. Don’t talk to him or her. As you watch, write down what he or she does. Use a chart like the one in the illustration below. Here are some activities you might notice: self-care (brushing hair, putting on clothes, brushing teeth), eating (which foods does your partner seem to like best?), playing (reading a book, doing a puzzle, playing a computer game, etc.), working (cleaning up a mess, putting away groceries, folding laundry, etc.) Illustration of clipboard with chart and pencil

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2. Observe your partner for fifteen minutes in the evening. Is he or she doing the same things, or different things? Write down what you observe on the chart.

 

 

  


4. Take your partner into his or her new environment. Sit down somewhere in the room and watch what happens. Watch for 30 minutes. Take notes. Don’t talk to your partner. Here are some questions to think about: Did your partner seem bored or frustrated? Did your partner seem to have fun? What did your partner like best? Can you think of anything you would like to add to or take away from the room?

5. Now it’s your partner’s turn to observe you—and to create a special room just to make you feel happy and safe!
   

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