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DISCUSS:
Why do you think it might be helpful for dogs to communicate with each other (like wagging their tails or rolling on their backs)?
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DISCUSS (1 of 2):
Which other kinds of animals can you think of that live in groups?
Here are some animals we came up with:
wolves, lions, fish, sheep, cows, elephants, whales, crows, bees, ants
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DISCUSS (2 of 2):
How might living in groups be helpful for animals?
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Dance Like a Bee: Bees live by the hundreds in hives, setting out each day in search of nectar. When a bee finds food, it heads back to the hive and tells the other bees all about it. How? By wiggling its body in patterns that tell the bees where to find the flowers.
Watch this video (1:50) to see a bee’s “waggle dance,” and then see how good you are at dancing like a bee with this activity from the New Jersey Agricultural Society. (Grades 3–5)
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Readings from Newselaare free with registration. They’re available in English or Spanish and can be adjusted for reading level. Writing prompts and quiz questions are available for many readings.
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A crow on its own might make an easy meal for a big, strong bald eagle. But as you can see here, a group of crows (called a “murder” of crows) can work together to chase an eagle away. (1:23, TheLivingWilderness)
Most big birds are not built to fight in the air. Smaller birds that can fly faster and change direction more quickly can often avoid them. Big groups of small birds can be even more effective. See how sticking together helps this huge flock of birds escape a falcon on the hunt. (2:40, BBC)
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| Exploration | 15 min |
| Hands-On Activity | 35 min |
| Wrap-Up | 5 min |
In this lesson, students discover why dogs’ expressions, like tail wagging, are so useful when living in a pack. In the activity, Field Journal, students watch videos of different animals that live in groups to simulate observing them in their natural habitats. They discuss and record their observations, and construct an explanation of how living in groups helps these animals survive.
| Field Journal worksheet | 1 per student |
| Field Journal Answer Key teacher-only resource | 1 per class |
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Stapler
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1 stapler per group |
We suggest students work in table groups of four and share a stapler to construct their Field Journals. Homeschool students can work on their own.
The page numbers of the Field Journal will look scrambled on the printout, but when students fold them and make their booklets, the pages will be in order.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Ants to the rescue!
Readings from Newsela are free with registration. They’re available in English or Spanish and can be adjusted for reading level. Writing prompts and quiz questions are available for many readings.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Can you do the waggle dance?
Bees live by the hundreds in hives, setting out each day in search of nectar. When a bee finds food, it heads back to the hive and tells the other bees all about it. How? By wiggling its body in patterns that tell the bees where to find the flowers.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Safety in numbers
A crow on its own might make an easy meal for a big, strong bald eagle. But as you can see here, a group of crows (called a “murder” of crows) can work together to chase an eagle away. (1:23, TheLivingWilderness)
Most big birds are not built to fight in the air. Smaller birds that can fly faster and change direction more quickly can often avoid them. Big groups of small birds can be even more effective. See how sticking together helps this huge flock of birds escape a falcon on the hunt. (2:40, BBC)
Please follow these steps:
