Animal Intelligence

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Animals of the World|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_fpPLWFIRVo

Explore animal intelligence and complex behaviour — chimpanzees and crows use tools, dolphins recognise themselves in mirrors, octopuses solve puzzles and escape enclosures, elephants mourn their dead, meerkats teach their young to handle scorpions — understanding that many animals think, learn, and have social lives more complex than once believed

Mastery Evidence

Gives at least 4 examples of animal intelligence or complex behaviour
Explains what 'tool use' means and names at least 2 tool-using animals
Discusses how scientists test animal intelligence (mirror test, puzzle boxes, observation)
Shows understanding that intelligence takes different forms in different species

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] watches a video of a crow using a stick to get food from a tube, can they explain that this shows animal intelligence and give other examples of animals that use tools, solve problems, or show complex behaviour?”

Prerequisites3

Predator Hunting Strategies
softAges 7—9
Senses, Brain & Responses
softAges 9—10
Animal Communication
hardAges 7—9

Show full prerequisite tree

Predator Hunting Strategies soft
Predator hunting strategies demonstrate intelligence
- Herbivores, Carnivores & Omnivores soft
  Predator-prey strategies build on curriculum classification of carnivores/herbivores/omnivores
  - Naming Common Animals hard
    Must identify animal groups before classifying by diet
- Animal Camouflage hard
  Predator-prey builds on camouflage as a defence strategy
  - Animals Everywhere hard
    Camouflage builds on awareness that animals live in different environments
  - Nocturnal Animals soft
    Camouflage and nocturnal behaviour are related survival strategies
    - Animal Homes soft
      Nocturnal animals often use homes (burrows, dens) as daytime shelters
      - Animals Everywhere hard
        Animal homes builds on knowing animals live everywhere
    - Animals Everywhere hard
      Nocturnal animals builds on knowing animals exist in diverse environments
- Nocturnal Animals soft
  Nocturnal hunting connects to predator strategies
  - Animal Homes soft
    Nocturnal animals often use homes (burrows, dens) as daytime shelters
    - Animals Everywhere hard
      Animal homes builds on knowing animals live everywhere
  - Animals Everywhere hard
    Nocturnal animals builds on knowing animals exist in diverse environments
- Savanna & Grassland Animals soft
  Savanna predator-prey (lions/zebras) is foundation for predator-prey strategies
  - Wild, Farm & Pet Animals soft
    Savanna animals contrasts with farm/pet animals from earlier
    - Animals Everywhere hard
      Wild/farm/pet distinction builds on knowing animals exist everywhere
    - Naming Common Animals soft
      Wild/farm/pet distinction enriched by curriculum animal group identification
  - Animals Everywhere hard
    Savanna animals builds on knowing animals live in diverse environments
Senses, Brain & Responses soft
Animal intelligence builds on curriculum coverage of animal senses and brain responses
- Body Parts & Senses hard
  Must know human senses before modelling sense-brain-response pathway in animals
  - Animal Body Groups soft
    Comparing animal structures supports understanding own body parts
    - Naming Common Animals hard
      Must know animal groups before comparing body structures
Animal Communication hard
Animal intelligence builds on understanding of communication as complex behaviour
- The World of Minibeasts soft
  Bee dance is a key communication example; insect knowledge enriches it
  - Animal Body Groups soft
    Insect/minibeast diversity enriched by curriculum body structure comparison across groups
    - Naming Common Animals hard
      Must know animal groups before comparing body structures
  - Animal Homes soft
    Insect homes (hives, webs) were introduced in animal homes topic
    - Animals Everywhere hard
      Animal homes builds on knowing animals live everywhere
  - Animals Everywhere hard
    Insects diversity builds on knowing animal diversity globally
- Animals Everywhere hard
  Communication needs awareness of animal diversity

Unlocks1

Sexual Selection
hardAges 12—13