The Double-Crossing Ants to Whom Friendship Means Nothing
From Deep Look
3 min3rd4th5th6thScience
Summary
Some ants seem to team up with other insects -- until it's no longer useful. Deep Look shows how ants form partnerships and alliances that help their colony get food and defend its territory.
Viewer safety
All ages
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Ant colonies cooperate with each other and sometimes with other insects to get food and protection. These partnerships last as long as they help the colony -- an example of animals living in groups to benefit survival.
- How do ants benefit from teaming up with other insects?
- Why might a partnership between animals end?
- How does cooperating help an ant colony survive?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: partnership, cooperate, colony, behavior.
Try it: Draw two animals helping each other. Write one way each one benefits, like ants and their partners.