Animal Adaptations: Physical and Behavioral
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Title:
| Animal Adaptations: Physical and Behavioral |
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Description:
| These sites are about the behaviors and physical traits that enable animals to survive in their environments. Topics cover camouflage, mimicry, and natural selection. Includes images, games, and lesson plans. There is a link to eThemes Resource on natural selection. |
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Grade Level:
| 3, 4, 5, 6 |
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Resource Links:
| National Geographic: Cats, Plans for Perfection
This site covers the anatomy and physiology of cats and how they have adapted from the first saber-toothed tiger. Note: This site includes ads.
Arctic Animals
Learn about how animals have adapted to life in the Arctic. Click on the links to learn more about some of the animals.
PBS: Night Creatures of the Kalahari
Learn how these nocturnal animals have adapted to their environment. Click on "Night Vision" to learn how their vision has adapted.
PBS: Evolution in Action
This online game shows how mutations develop. Read the instructions before starting.
Quia: Animal Adaptations Vocabulary List
This is a vocabulary list of important words developed for fourth-grade biology.
BugBios: Class Insecta: Butterfly Wings
Click on a wing pattern and learn how wing colors, patterns, and shapes help protect butterflies from their predators. The reading level is for older students.
Rainforest Alliance: Species Profiles
Click on a the name of an animal or plant to learn more about how that species has adapted to life in the rain forest.
Why Most Animals Are Insects
This site offers a brief explanation why insects have been the most successful animals on earth.
Scholastic: Dirtmeister: Animal Adaptation
Use this website to help write a report on a particular animal and the ways that it has adapted to its environment.
Darwin and Natural Selection
Read an explanation of Darwin's theories on evolution. This site describes how he came up with the theory and how it became published. The reading level is for older students.
Animal Camouflage Lesson Plan
This online game shows how mutations develop. Read the instructions before starting.
Critter Camouflage
Learn about the different ways animals can use camouflage to protect themselves from other animals. Includes a link that explains mimicry.
Camouflage Field Book
In this short game, decide which animals camouflage into their environment the best. This is fun for the SMARTboard.
Penguin Adaptation
Learn how penguins are adapted for a life at sea. There are several activity and discussion ideas.
Reptile Adaptations
Learn how reptiles adapt to live in their environments. Includes discussion questions. This is a nine-page PDF file.
Animal Adaptation Teacher Guide
This 21-page PDF file is an extensive teaching guide on animal adaptations. Includes vocabulary words, examples of how particular animals have adapted to their environments, and lesson plans.
Science NetLinks: Animal Adaptation
In this lesson, students will learn about animals and how well they have adapted to satisfying their needs in natural habitats through classroom discussion and activities.
Animal Adaptations Game
How fast can you match the animals' adaptations? Select the three correct answers then press the big red button before the clock runs out.
National Geographic: Create a Creature
Students can learn about animal adaptations and apply what they have learned by designing their own imaginary animal in this lesson activity.
Education World: Amusing Adaptations
Here is a fun activity designed to enhance students' understanding of adaptations.
BBC: Interdependence and Adaptation
Test your knowledge of interdependence and adaptations with this online quiz.
Animal Coverings
This four-page PDF file describes the different kinds of coverings animals have developed to adapt to their environments. Includes a vocabulary list and several activity ideas, some of which require a microscope.
eThemes Resource: Natural Selection
These sites provide information about the concept of natural selection. Learn how the natural selection process occurs and its effect on the evolution of living things. The topics cover natural selection, theory of evolution, adaptation, and misconceptions about natural selection. Includes examples, an interview transcript, online resources, lesson plans, and video clips. There is a link to eThemes Resource on animal adaptations.
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Education Standards:
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AL Standards:
5.1
AR Standards:
LS.4.5.4.b, LS.4.5.4.c, LS.4.5.5.a, LS.4.5.5.b, LS.4.5.5.c, LS.4.5.5.d, LS.4.5.14.a, LS.4.5.14.d, LS.4.5.14.e, LS.3.6.7.b, LS.4.6.1, LS.4.6.2, LS.4.6.3, LS.4.6.4
DE Standards:
6.2.1, 1.1.32, 6.1.3, 6.2.1, 1.1.28, 1.1.30, 7.1.1, 8.1.2
IL Standards:
12.A.1a, 12.A.1b, 12.B.1a, 12.B.1b, 12.B.2a, 12.B.2b, 12.A.3c
ME Standards:
A.3, A.4, B.1, B.2, B.3, B.4, A.3, B.4
MO Standards:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 4.1.A.a, 4.1.A.b, 4.2.A.a, 4.2.A.b, 4.2.A.c, 4.3.C.b, 4.3.C.c, 4.3.C.d, 3.1.A.a, 4.1.B.a, 4.1.B.b, 4.1.B.c, 4.1.D.a, 4.1.D.b, 4.1.D.c, 4.3.C.a, 4.3.C.b
NV Standards:
L.5.C.2, L.5.C.3, L.5.C.4, L.5.C.5, L.5.D.3, L.8.C.2, L.8.D.1
OH Standards:
2.B.2, 2.C.6, 2.C.4, 2.C.5, 2.C.6
OK Standards:
C.2.1, C.2.2, C.2.3, C.3.1, C.3.2, C.3.3
UT Standards:
V.2.b, V.2.c, V.2.a, V.2.b, V.2.c, V.2.d
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