29

Lesson 29 of 84 ยท Ecosystems

Experimentโญ 30 XP๐ŸŒฟ Wild Jungle

Animal Communication

๐ŸงชLab Brief #29

Ecosystems.

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

โšก The twist

Every species solves the same problem differently.

๐Ÿคฏ

Mind = Blown

๐ŸŒณ Trees can talk to each other through underground fungus networks.

๐Ÿ”ฎ

Make a hypothesis first

Before you watch: what do you think it'll do?

What You'll Learn

Animals communicate using sounds, body language, colors, and chemical signals called pheromones. Communication helps them find mates, warn of danger, and mark territory.

Key Words

  • organism
  • habitat

Materials Needed

  • markers
  • tape
  • small pots
  • cotton balls
  • zip-lock bags

Safety First

  • Wash hands after handling materials.
  • Be careful with scissors โ€” ask an adult for help if needed.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Review the background information on Ecosystems before starting.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Build a model ecosystem in a jar using soil, small plants, and water. Seal it and observe how the water cycle works inside it for one week.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

Which is an example of a learned behavior in animals?

๐ŸŒ

Where you see this in real life

Your own body is doing this thousands of times every second.

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Find one thing about your body that's different from a friend's. Wonder why.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œTell me something you noticed about your own body today.โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

๐ŸงฒShare card

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Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.

๐Ÿ–จ๏ธ

Checkout complete lesson on Ecosystems for 4th Grade

Get the full Ecosystems track as a printable PDF โ€” all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.

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