Rocket spots a spider alone on a web in the workshop window.
"Hey! Why does she not have a flock? Is she lonely?"
Raven studies the web. "A web catches enough for one. Would a hundred spiders fit here?"
Rocket thinks. "No. They would fight over every fly."
Nova twirls. "Groups help," she says. "But is there a downside too? Think about sharing."
Living in a group helps animals survive. But it also brings problems.
More animals means more mouths. Food in one spot runs out faster.
Animals in a crowd can pass sickness to each other more easily.
A big group is also easier for a hunter to see from far away.
For some animals, alone works better. A spider on a web is one example.
Its web catches enough food for one. A crowd would only get in the way.
Every animal lives the way that helps its kind survive best.
| Living in a group | Living alone |
|---|---|
| many eyes spot danger | nobody else to warn you |
| food found faster and shared | all the food you find is yours |
| young are guarded by many | young are guarded by one or two |
| food in one spot runs out faster | less competition for food |
| sickness spreads more easily | sickness spreads slowly |
This week you have gathered evidence about groups.
A scientist uses evidence to back up a claim.
Here is a claim: a flock helps birds survive.
Here is evidence: one alarm call sent the whole flock to safety.
Here is more evidence: birds in a flock spend more time eating.
Good evidence comes from what you observed, not what you guessed.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Living in a group has no downsides. | ? |
| Some animals survive better alone. | ? |
| A claim should be backed up by evidence. | ? |
| A guess is the same as evidence. | ? |
Strong argument, explorer! Tomorrow is Explorer Day. Your family counts who is alone and who is together.