Operation Cooperation

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” We’ve been exploring how working cooperatively benefits people. We built mini sleds with a partner. We played ball and spoon relays in teams. We found many ways to help one another and explore what it means to be a friend. Today, we wanted to find out if the same is true for other creatures within the same species. Do beavers have a ‘bestie’? Do foxes make friends? Do turtles ever team up? If they do, why do they cooperate with each other?

How are these deer cooperating?

Most creatures know that they will have a better chance of survival if they work with other members of their ‘team’. They will be able to find more food as well as be better protected if they stick together. What were some of the other insects and animals we talked about today and how did they help each other?

What did it feel like to pretend you were an ant in the Team Ant survival game we played?

What role did you have and how did cooperation help your team complete the task? Look at the pictures below and try to explain how the game was played. You may need to use words like ‘queen’, ‘’scout’, ‘worker’, and ‘pheromone trail’.

Antman is an important part of our nature school team and we were thrilled when he paid us a visit today. What were some of the interesting things you learned about ants and birds?

 Let’s take a look at some of the other ways we cooperated today:

Today we hiked to Cedar Hideaway, knowing that we would have to turn around and walk back the same way we came for the very LAST time. Why you ask? Next week, a bridge is being put into place so that our east and west trails will join up. From now on, we will be able to do a full loop around the pond! This is a great example of what can happen when people cooperate and work together!

Let's check for any tracks across the bridge next week to see if deer or other animals have also be waiting for a bridge to connect the 2 sides!