Lesson: Wild Democracy

As a class, brainstorm things humans have in common with other social organisms that live in groups, such as dolphins, monkeys, or bees. Ask students: How do animals benefit by living in groups? What types of decisions do animal groups need to make? How might decisions be made within a group?

Have students watch the video “Animal Voters.” Then assign the skills sheet “Making Choices” for students to complete. Discuss their answers. Present students with a situation in which they need to make a choice (like whether to take an umbrella or what to do after school) and challenge them to construct a flowchart they could follow to settle on a decision.

Instruct students to read the article independently. Share “The Value of Voting” skills sheet with students. Split the class into two groups, assigning one group meerkats and baboons and the other wild dogs and bees. When everyone has finished recording the information for their two animals, ask for volunteers to share what they learned. Discuss the similarities and differences between how animals and how people vote. Then have students complete the skills sheet by supporting a claim with evidence.

Tell students that the animals in the article communicated either by making sounds or by movement. Bees, for example, communicate complex information by dancing. Ask students to work on the “Dancing Directions” skills sheet to analyze how a bee’s waggle dance conveys information to the hive. Challenge students to come up with their own respectful and non-verbal way to communicate directions to others.

Instruct students to complete the article’s “Check for Understanding.” Then ask students to try out voting themselves using the Learning Journey (found at the end of the online scrollable article). After they complete the activity, have students respond to the following question: What are the benefits of allowing individuals in a group to have a say in group decisions? Explain your answer.

⇨ SEL: This lesson plan contains social-emotional learning (SEL) support related to relationship skills.

⇨ VIDEO EXTRA: Watch a video about how baboons make democratic decisions.