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Science Launch G3 / Week 08 / Monday
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Week 08 · Better Together

Monday

Why live in a group?
// Animals that live in groups
⏱ about 15 min

Monday: Why Live in a Group?

Rocket watches a nature show about wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Eleven wolves trot through the snow together.

"Why not just go alone?" Rocket asks. "Then nobody has to share."

Raven leans closer to the screen. "What do you notice about what they are doing together?"

Nova pauses the show. "Count the jobs," she says. "Hunting, guarding, caring for pups."

Wolf packs

Some animals live alone. Others live in groups.

A wolf pack is a family group. Each wolf has its own role.

In Yellowstone National Park, an average pack has about 12 wolves.

The pack hunts together. Together, wolves can catch large animals one wolf could not.

In Yellowstone, most of what wolves eat in winter is elk.

The whole pack also helps take care of the pups.

  • Finding food: the pack hunts large animals together.
  • Raising young: many wolves help care for the pups.
  • Staying safe: the pack defends its home area from other packs.
WOLF PACK CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
How does living in a pack help wolves get food?
What do wolves in Yellowstone mostly eat in winter?
StatementTrue or false?
A wolf pack is a family group.?
Only one wolf cares for the pups.?
Hunting together helps wolves catch large animals.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEThe pack is a family that hunts together and cares for pups together.
To stay alive is to ____. Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISETo survive means to stay alive, and groups help some animals do that.

Jobs in the pack

Each wolf in a pack has its own role.

Wolves hunt as a group. They chase large prey together.

Many wolves help feed and watch the pups.

The pack also defends its home area from other packs. That keeps its hunting ground safe.

HOW DOES THE PACK HELP?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Many wolves bring food to the pups. How does that help the pack survive?
A pack keeps other packs out of its home area. What does that protect?
An elk is much bigger than one wolf. How can wolves catch it?
StatementTrue or false?
Each wolf in a pack has a role.?
An average Yellowstone pack has about 12 wolves.?
Wolf packs share their home area with every other pack.?
Some animals live alone instead of in groups.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEPacks have roles, about 12 wolves in Yellowstone, and they defend their area.
A wolf pack is a ____ group.
In winter, Yellowstone wolves mostly eat ____.
Try it
With a grown-up, list three jobs that are easier with a team.
For each one, say why a team helps.

Great thinking! Tomorrow we visit a group of thousands: a honey bee colony.