How Can Animals Use Their Senses To Communicate?
How Can Animals Use Their Senses To Communicate?
How Can Animals Use Their Senses to Communicate? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of fourth grade life science, physical science, and engineering standards. In this module, students:
- Combine evidence from across multiple sources to support an argument that explains how internal and external substructures of a cat’s eyes, ears, whiskers, and nose help it hunt.
- Develop a system model to show how a songbird uses information from sense receptors and memories to predict if something is edible.
- Carry out an investigation to test whether male fiddler crabs wave more when female crabs are present than when they are absent.
- Develop a model showing the components and interactions of a system that can convert sound to digital form, recognize a pattern in that form, send a digital message, and decode a digital message as part of a solution to decrease illegal logging.
- Use evidence to support an argument about the importance of distinct flash patterns in firefly communication to find a mate.
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Family Letter
Before starting How Can Animals Use Their Senses to Communicate? share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Download Family Letter PDF
Pouncing Cat (0:29)
This video introduces the phenomenon of a cat using its senses to find a mouse hidden in grass.
Download Pouncing Cat Video
Download the Accessible Version of Pouncing Cat Video
Download Cat Pouncing Video Transcript
Light Up the Cave
This simulation allows users to test various light sources in a dark cave.
Light Up the Cave | Smithsonian Science Education Center (si.edu)
Using Reflectors in Photography
This file shows portraits taken with and without reflectors.
Download Using Reflectors in Photography PDF
Human Eye
This image shows a human eye.
Download Human Eye PDF
Cat Smelling (1:01)
This video shows several examples of cats using their sense of smell.
Download Cat Smelling Video
Download the Accessible Version of Cat Smelling Video
Download Cat Smelling Video Transcript
Ear Drum (0:17)
This video shows how sound waves travel through the external ear to move the ear drum.
Download Ear Drum Video
Download the Accessible Version of Ear Drum Video
Download Ear Drum Video Transcript
Songbirds and Firebugs
This file introduces the phenomenon of hand-raised songbirds that tried to eat firebugs more than wild-caught songbirds.
Download the Sonbirds and Firebugs PDF
Human Nervous System
This file shows illustrations of the human nervous system.
Download Human Nervous System PDF
Songbird (0:43)
This video shows songbirds.
Download Songbird Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Songbird Video
Download the Songbird Video Transcript
Firebug (0:42)
This video shows firebugs.
Download Firebug Video
Download the Accessible Version of Firebug Video
Download the Firebug Video Transcript
Human-Bicycle Model
This file shows a model of a human riding a bicycle.
Download Human-Bicycle Model
Human and Bird Visual Systems
This file shows illustrations of the human and bird visual systems.
Download Human Bird Visual Systems PDF
Fiddler Crabs Waving (0:14)
This video introduces students to the phenomenon of male fiddler crabs waving.
Download Fiddler Crabs Waving Video
Download the Accessible Version of Fiddler Crabs Waving Video
Download the Fiddler Crabs Waving Video Transcript
Male and Female Fiddler Crabs (5:03)
This video provides an alternative to using live fiddler crabs in the classroom. Students may observe fiddler crabs digitally.
Download Male and Female Fiddler Crabs Video
Download the Accessible Version of Male and Female Fiddler Crabs Video
Download the Male and Female Fiddler Crabs Video Transcript
Fiddler Crab Field Study
This presentation provides background information about a field study into male fiddler crabs waving and results from the study.
Download Fiddler Crab Field Study PDF
Male Fiddler Crab Alone (5:03)
This video provides an alternative to using live fiddler crabs in the classroom. Students may observe fiddler crabs digitally and conduct their investigation using this and the Male and Female Fiddler Crabs video.
Download Male Fiddler Crab Alone Video
Download the Accessible Version of Male Fiddler Crab Alone Video
Download the Male Fiddler Crab Alone Video Transcript
Rainforest Protector
This simulation includes images and sounds of the rainforest and creates spectrograms of sounds.
Play Rainforest Protector Simulation
Illegal Logging Problem (5:05)
This video describes the illegal logging problem in Alto Rio Guamá. Play the first 1:20 so students see only the problem and not the solution.
Beneath The Canopy | 2018 Google Search On Documentary Series featuring RFCx - YouTube
Bird ID
This application identifies birds through sound, photos, and/or user observations.
Merlin Bird ID – Free, instant bird identification help and guide for thousands of birds – Identify the birds you see (allaboutbirds.org)
Bird Guide
This website provides information, including bird sounds, for different types of birds.
Search, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Rainforest Protection System Model
This file shows how the class will model the rainforest protection system.
Download Rainforest Protection System Model PDF
Model of Your Solutions
This file provides directions to develop a model of a rainforest protection solution.
Download Model of Your Solutions PDF
Flashing Fireflies (0:20)
This video introduces students to the phenomenon of fireflies flashing.
Download Flashing Fireflies Video
Download the Accessible Version of Flashing Fireflies Video
Download the Flashing Fireflies Video Transcript
Firefly Flash Pattern 1 (0:14)
This is one of three videos that shows fireflies flashing in different patterns.
Download Firefly Flash Pattern 1 Video
Download the Accessible Version of Firefly Flash Pattern 1 Video
Download the Firefly Flash Pattern 1 Video Transcript
Firefly Flash Pattern 2 (0:37)
This is one of three videos that shows fireflies flashing in different patterns.
Download Firefly Flash Pattern 2 Video
Download the Accessible Version of Firefly Flash Pattern 2 Video
Download the Firefly Flash Pattern 2 Video Transcript
Firefly Flash Pattern 3 (0:25)
This is one of three videos that shows fireflies flashing in different patterns.
Download Firefly Flash 3 Pattern Video
Download the Accessible Version of Firefly Flash Pattern 3 Video
Download the Firefly Flash Pattern 3 Video Transcript
Sample Flash Pattern
This file shows an example of a visual model for a simplified firefly flash pattern.
Download Sample Flash Pattern PDF
Firefly Communication Testing
This file shows the procedure for testing the flash patterns with physical models.
Download Firefly Communication Testing PDF
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