Learned Behavior II

Learned Behavior II

Teaching a dog to sit or learning how to ride a bike are examples of learned behaviors—actions acquired through experience and practice. These behaviors are not instinctive; instead, they develop over time as individuals interact with their environment. While some behaviors are automatic (like blinking), others are learned over time by watching, practicing, or being trained.

Animals learn from their parents, their environment, and sometimes from trial and error. Whether a bird learns a song or a chimp uses a stick to get food, learned behaviors help animals survive by adjusting to what’s around them.

Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Scientists observe animals to understand which behaviors are learned and how those behaviors help them survive. They then design experiments, such as giving animals puzzles or changing their environments, to see if behavior changes with experience. You can think like a scientist, too! Watch animals, ask questions, and explain how learning helps them adapt or solve problems. You can even design your own behavior experiment—with a pet, a classmate, or yourself!

Activity Ideas:

• Behavior Sort Game – Use cards with different actions (like “a baby bird chirps” or “a dolphin does the trick”). Decide: Is it learned or instinct?
  
• Monkey See, Monkey Do – Watch videos of animals learning by observing others. Can you explain how they copy the behavior?
  
• Learned Behavior Journal Quest – Choose a human or animal behavior to observe over a week, like a pet learning a trick or yourself mastering a new skill. Document each step of the learning journey, including mistakes, improvements, and breakthroughs. Reflect on what helped the learning process most: practice, repetition, encouragement, or observation. Add sketches, photos, or notes to bring your journal to life.
  

Crosscutting Concept (CCC): Cause and Effect

Learned behavior is a great example of cause and effect. The cause might be a reward, a loud sound, or something seen. The effect is the behavior the animal learns. By observing what happens, animals and people change how they act next time.

• Cause: A dog gets a treat for sitting
  Effect: It learns to sit when told
• Cause: A loud noise happens every day
  Effect: A raccoon learns to ignore it
• Cause: A chimp sees another crack nut with a rock
  Effect: It tries to use the same tool

Studying how animals learn helps scientists train service animals, protect endangered species, and even design smart robots that learn like living creatures. It also shows how clever and adaptable life really is!