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Why do some animals live in groups?

Fates of Traits Unit
Lesson 4 of 5
Animal Groups & Survival
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS:

What can be difficult about living or working in a group?

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DISCUSS:

How might living in a group help an animal?

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environment


1 of 11

a living thing’s surroundings, including other living things and nonliving parts like soil, water, and air

behavior


2 of 11

the actions and reactions of living things
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social behavior


3 of 11

the behaviors of living things that live in groups
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colony


4 of 11

a group of animals of the same kind, such as ants, that live and work closely together
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solitary


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lives mostly alone
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predator


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an animal that hunts and eats other animals

communicate


7 of 11

to exchange information
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protection


8 of 11

the act of keeping something or someone safe
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survive


9 of 11

to stay alive
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observe


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to pay close attention to something
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evidence


11 of 11

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
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Why do some animals live in groups?
Fates of Traits Unit
Lesson 4 of 5
Animal Groups & Survival
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
This lesson was revised on June 13, 2026. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students explore how living in a group can help animals survive. In the activity, Field Journal, students make observations of different animals that live in groups. They use their recorded observations to construct an explanation that being part of a group helps animals find food, stay protected, and adjust to changes in their environment.
Preview activity

Vocabulary

Assessments

What you’ll need for students
Field Journal printout Print 30 copies
Field Journal Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 copy
Stapler
8 staplers
Prep Instructions

Each student will make their own Field Journal. We suggest students work in table groups of four and share a stapler to construct their 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. We have unscrambled the Answer Key to make grading easier.

Standards

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Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

35 mins

Wrap-Up

5 mins

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Selection Lesson 4: Why do some animals live in groups?

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