charging If an animal is charging, it is rushing or moving quickly towards something or someone. 1. The crocodile went charging home because its nest was in danger. 2. If a strange dog was charging you, would you run or stand still? 3. Would a race car charging around a racetrack be easy to see? Why? 4. What would you do if a crocodile were charging toward you?

ferocious A ferocious animal looks angry and wild. 1. The ferocious crocodile protected the water thick-knees. 2. Are most dogs you know gentle or ferocious? 3. Is a kitten usually ferocious? Explain your answer. 4. Is a ferocious animal dangerous or safe? Explain.

communicate When two people or animals communicate, they share information. 1. Do you communicate well with animals? 2. How can you communicate with a friend who lives far away? 3. How do two male elephant seals communicate with each other? 4. How would you communicate with another person if you were deaf?

flick When you flick something, you move it or snap it quickly. 1. Do you ever flick your tongue across your lips when you are nervous? 2. Why do you think sea turtles flick sand over their eggs? 3. When you flick a light switch, what might happen? 4. How would you flick a bug that was bothering you?

alert If you alert people to something, you get their attention and let them know to be careful. 1. How does a rattle snake signal an alert when someone is too close? 2. How could you alert someone to danger? 3. How does a baby bird alert its mother that it is hungry? 4. If someone were in danger from a fast-moving car, how could you alert the person?

signal A signal is a sound or an action that sends a message. 1. What signal could you give a friend if you saw a sea turtle? 2. What signal might you use to greet a friend? 3. What signal does a stoplight give to a driver? 4. How can you signal someone to be quiet?

chatter When animals chatter, they repeat their sounds quickly. 1. Why is it not a good idea to chatter in a library? 2. Who is more likely to chatter, a group planning a party or a girl reading a book? Why? 4. Name some places where it is okay to chatter and some places where it is not okay to chatter.

grooms When an animal grooms itself, it makes itself neat and clean. 1. How do cats groom themselves? 2. Why would a bird groom itself? 3. Does a horse look better before or after someone grooms it? Why? 4. What do you do to groom yourself before you go to school?

dominant If someone or something is the strongest, it is dominant. 1. Two bull elks crash horns to see who is dominant. 2. Which is dominant, a puppy or a grown cat? 3. Which bird is dominant: a baby robin or a bald eagle? Why? 4. Would a dominant runner be slower than other runners? Why?

conflict If two animals are fighting, they are in a conflict. 1. Two arctic hares hit each other because they are in a conflict. 2. Do you talk about a conflict, or argue about it? 3. What kind of conflict might there be between two elephant seals? 4. How would you act if you were in a conflict with a friend? Explain.

Try this. chatter grooms charging conflict dominant ferocious alert flick communicate signal 1. With a _____________of his finger, he sent the coin flying across the room. 2. The elephant was ________________ at the jeep. 3. His grandmother doesn't understand his ______________ about video games. 4. A raised flag was the _______________ to begin the race. 5. My cat ______________ herself often. flick charging chatter signal grooms

chatter groom charging conflict dominant ferocious alert flick communicate signal 6. Mother bears can become _______________ if their cubs are hurt. 7. The _______________ of opinions led to arguments about the best way to build our clubhouse. 8. Space travel was our _______________ topic of discussion. 9. We stayed in the basement until the tornado _____________ was over. 10. Since my best friend moved away, we ________________ by telephone. ferocious conflict dominant signal communicated

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