First Grade · Science · week 21

What parents teach their babies

Distinguish between traits an animal is born knowing (instinct) and behaviors a parent teaches.

Some things a baby animal can do right away, without anyone teaching it, such as a baby turtle knowing how to crawl toward the ocean the moment it hatches. Scientists call this an instinct: something an animal is simply born knowing how to do.

Other things young animals must be taught, or must practice, often by watching a parent. A mother cat teaches her kittens how to hunt. A parent bird teaches its chicks how to fly by encouraging them out of the nest.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Brainstorm animal examples together: birds learning to fly, or cats teaching kittens to hunt, versus spiders spinning webs instinctively.
  • If you have a pet, think about what it knew instinctively as a baby versus what you, or its parent, taught it.
  • Keep the two categories concrete and simple: "born knowing it" versus "someone taught it" -- the word "instinct" is a bonus, not required.
  • A light "probably both" answer is fine for tricky examples that mix instinct and learning.
Talk about it:
  • What is one thing an animal is just born knowing how to do?
  • What is one thing a parent animal has to teach its young?
  • Do you think humans are born knowing things, or do we need to be taught more?

Mastery looks like: They correctly sort at least one animal behavior as instinct and one as taught or learned, with a real example for each.

Common stumbles: Assuming every animal behavior must be taught; not recognizing that some skills still take practice even after a parent shows the young animal how.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Science for this learner.
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