Termite

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/termite

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 scientific name?Order Isoptera
2. What is the estimated age of order?Over 100 million years
3. What are termites and what do they build?Termites are tiny insects that build huge homes called mounds from soil, saliva, and feces. They work together to make these structures very strong and long. They can even reach heights of more than 6 meters!
4. How do termites work together in their colony?A termite colony has a king and queen who lay eggs, workers who gather food and build the nest, and soldiers who protect everyone. They use chemical signals called pheromones to talk to each other and stay organized.

Eusociality: The highest level of social organization, characterized by cooperative brood care, overlapping generations, and reproductive division of labor.
Lignocellulosic Materials: Plant-based materials composed of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, which form the structural components of wood and plant tissues.
Symbiotic Microorganisms: Organisms living in a mutually beneficial relationship, such as microbes in a termite's gut that aid digestion.