Last updated: July 25, 2017
Lesson Plan
Adaptations
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- Virginia Standards of Learning:
4.5
4.9
5.5 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Objective
Describe how plants and animals use adaptations to survive in a particular environment.
Explain how impacts on a habitat influence the adaptations of a species.
Background
Many ecosystems exist on Earth-Grassland, Mountain, Aquatic, Desert, Forest etc. Wind, rain, temperature, and altitude all play a role in shaping each zone. Species have had to adapt to these different habitats over time. An adaptation is a change of form or behavior that helps a species survive in a specific environment. The trait or characteristic may be inherited from their parents. Other traits can result from individuals’ interactions with their environment, which can range from diet to learning. Many characteristics involve both inheritance and the environment. Most living things have a variety of adaptations. Some examples are: body coloring or camouflage, variations in the size and shape of a bird’s beak to help it gather food, migration, hibernation, and defense behaviors. All forms of life are dependent upon both living and nonliving components of the environment. The living and nonliving components of an ecosystem all interact with each other and are interdependent.
Preparation
Supplies:
- Powerpoint
- Coloring materials
- "Create a Creature" Worksheet
- Animal Picture
Materials
Use this lesson plan to complete the Adaptations lesson.
Download Adaptations Lesson Plan
Use this PowerPoint to complete the Adaptations lesson.
Download Adaptations PowerPoint
Use this PowerPoint to complete the Adaptations lesson. This version has teacher notes.
Download Adaptations Teacher PowerPoint
Lesson Hook/Preview
Ask students what their favorite animal is. Follow up that question by asking why are there so many different types of animals on Earth.
Procedure
Step 1: Introduction and Definitions
- Provide the guiding questions: What is your favorite animal? Why are there so many different types of animals and plants in the world? Record their ideas.
- Introduce key vocabulary words
- Ask students for examples of some different types of plant and animal adaptations.
- Ask students examples of adaptations they might see at Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Step 1: Review a variety of ecosystems
- Many ecosystems exist on the Earth. Tell students the different types, and an overview of each.
- For example: in an aquatic ecosystem the animal would need gills to breathe.
- Discuss what types of adaptations would be needed to survive in each.
Step 2: Brainstorm creation of a well-adapted creature
- After students receive their animal picture, have them think of what types of adaptations their creature has to help them to survive in an ecosystem of their choice (the ecosystem that they think the animal is best suited for). They should think back to things like the amount of water available, wind, temperature, soil, sun, and any threats within the ecosystem.
- Provide the following list of questions for the students to answer. They should connect each one with an adaptation that will help their creature survive.
- Where will the animal live?
- What will it eat?
- Where will it get water?
- How will it breathe?
- How does it move?
- What type of body covering will it have?
- What is the name of the animal?
Step 3: Worksheet
- Students should then fill out the “Create a Creature” worksheet, answering the questions above, draw and color a picture of their creature and labeling its adaptations.
Step 4: Present Your Organism
- Have each student present their well-adapted creature to the class. Encourage students to ask questions about how the animal adaptations help it to survive within the ecosystem.
Vocabulary
Adaptation- A change of form or behavior that helps a species survives in a specific environment. Survival- Meets the needs of food, water, shelter and space.
Trait- A distinguishing characteristic or quality that makes one organism different from another.
Camouflage- Coloration or patterns that allow animals to blend into their surroundings. Interdependence- Dependent or relying upon each other, the interrelationships of species with one another and with the various elements of their environment.
Migration- The act of moving from one place to another.
Species- Plant, animal or insect.
Abiotic- Nonliving.
Behavioral adaptation- an animal’s actions or things it does which helps it survive in a specific environment, including both learned and instinctive behaviors.
Conservation- careful use and preservation of our natural resources.
Hibernation- the act of passing the winter in a state of dormancy or sleep.
Instinct- inborn tendency to behave in a way characteristic of a species; natural, unlearned, predictable response to stimuli.
Interdependence- dependent or relying upon each other, the interrelationships of organisms with one another and with the various elements of their environment.
Learned Behavior- behaviors that are taught in order for the animals to survive.
Migration- the act of moving from one place to another.
Mimicry- imitation in color, form, or behavior, of one organism to another or to some object in its environment.
Physical Adaptation- a body.