Instinct

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/instinct

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the fixed action patterns (faps)?Unlearned, innate behavioral sequences triggered by specific stimuli, performed to completion
2. What is instinct in animals?Instinct is a set of behaviors that animals are born with. They act without learning or thinking. These behaviors are controlled by special brain circuits.
3. How do animals know when to do instinctive actions?Instincts are triggered by specific signals in the environment, called sign stimuli. When the signal appears, the animal’s brain automatically starts the action.

Fixed Action Pattern (FAP): An unlearned, innate behavioral sequence triggered by a specific stimulus.
Eusociality: A complex social structure characterized by cooperative brood care and division of labor.
Sign Stimulus: A specific environmental cue that triggers an innate behavioral response.