Danger Dance

10/10/2020 6:17:00 PM
Honey bees' danger dance. Image: ensia.com

Do you know?

  • Many animals respond to the threat of predation by producing alarm signals that warn other individuals of the presence of danger.
  • Alarm signals may be visual or auditory, as well as chemical.

Let's explore more!

Honey bees' danger dance. Image: ensia.com

Listen and choose the correct answer to each of the following questions.

  • How do the other beavers know that there is danger nearby?
  • How are ants and bees alike?

How do the other beavers know that there is danger nearby?

  • A beaver made loud barking sounds.
  • They all heard the dangerous animal growling.
  • A beaver slapped its tail on the water.

How are ants and bees alike?

  • They both leave an odor to warn others of poisonous food.
  • They both live in a giant group with other ants or bees.
  • They both do a danger dance to warn other ants or bees.

Complete the text you are listening to by dragging the correct word to each blank.

Sometimes, your parents give you . They might say, "Be careful!" They can use words to help keep you safe. Animals cannot use words, but they can warn of danger in different ways.

A beaver has a flat and thick tail. It it on the water. THWACK! It cracks like a firecracker! The other beavers go and hide. They know that there is danger !

Ants are much tinier than beavers, yet they still danger! If the ants find yucky or poisonous food, they leave a special odor on the path. Only other ants can smell it. The special odor tells other ants not to get food there.

Honey bees are like ants. They live in a family. Some bees make honey. Other bees go look for food. While looking for food, a bee might see a wasp. Wasps attack and kill bees. This bee must go back and warn the others. Inside the hive, the bee will . This is a special danger dance. It tells the bees that there is danger. Now they will go look for food in a different flower field!

These are just a few examples of animals communicating to keep each other safe. Sounds, scents, and movement all help animals talk to one another without using words.

Read and answer the following questions.

Danger Dance
Written by Josie Elbiry

A beaver is slapping its tail as a warning to other beavers. Image: mediastorehouse.com

Sometimes, your parents give you warnings. They might say, "Be careful!" They can use words to help keep you safe. Animals cannot use words, but they can warn of danger in different ways.

A beaver has a flat and thick tail. It slaps it on the water. THWACK! It cracks like a firecracker! The other beavers go and hide. They know that there is danger nearby!

Ants are much tinier than beavers, yet they still face danger! If the ants find yucky or poisonous food, they leave a special odor on the path. Only other ants can smell it. The special odor tells other ants not to get food there.

Honey bees are like ants. They live in a giant family. Some bees make honey. Other bees go look for food. While looking for food, a bee might see a wasp. Wasps attack and kill bees. This bee must go back and warn the others. Inside the hive, the bee will vibrate. This is a special danger dance. It tells the bees that there is danger. Now they will go look for food in a different flower field!

These are just a few examples of animals communicating to keep each other safe. Sounds, scents, and movement all help animals talk to one another without using words. 

What is special about a beaver's tail?

  • Its hard tail can knock over trees.
  • Its thick, flat tail can make a loud sound on the water.
  • Its tail can beat off predators, or animals that attack it.
  • Its thick, hard tail can knock fish out of the water.

Based on the passage, which is the way ants use to warn about the danger?

  • Leaving a special odor
  • Doing a special dance
  • Making a very loud noise
  • Touching others' antennae

How do bees warn each other of danger?

  • They flap their wings against other bees' wings.
  • They tell the queen bee, and she warns the others.
  • They fly in and out of the hive over and over.
  • They vibrate to make a danger dance at the hive.

What is this article teaching you about?

  • ways ants and bees use to communicate with each other
  • different ways to give warning about danger of human
  • ways to fight off dangerous predators of different animals
  • different ways animals use to warn each other of danger

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

  1. The other beavers go and hide. They know that there is danger !
  2. Honey bees are like ants. They live in a family.
  3. Sometimes, your parents give you .
  4. Ants are much tinier than beavers, yet they still danger!
  5. Inside the hive, the bee will .
  6. A beaver has a flat and thick tail. It it on the water.

Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text.

  1. The World Health Organization repeated its against non-essential travel to the island.
  2. Farmers serious challenges in these conditions.
  3. Every time a train went past, the walls .
  4. A police officer was standing .
  5. The match was shown on a screen outside the town hall.
  6. He the newspaper down on the desk.