Animal AdaptationsAnimal adaptations in plants and animals refers to the way they can adjust or change to be able to live where and how they do. Many animals and plants can live only in certain places. People have made adaptations so they can live for periods of time almost anywhere.
What kind of adaptations have animals made in different habitats? Can a reptile survive in a polar/tundra habitat? Why not? Can a polar bear survive in a desert? Let's find out what we can learn about specific animal adaptations in various habitats. But first, a Kahoot! |
Study Jams Animal Adaptations Video
Animal adaptations provide different species of animals with unique ways to survive in their natural habitats. Use the Study Jams! Animal Adaptations Worksheet and watch the following video. Match the vocabulary with their correct meanings and fill in the blanks with information from the video. You may have to pause the video or watch it more than once to get all the answers.
Study Jams! Animal Adaptations Video with important vocabulary |
Study Jams Animal Adaptations Video Worksheet | |
File Size: | 87 kb |
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Analysing Animal Adaptations
Now that you know a little more about animal adaptations, use the Animal Adaptations Chart to:
- choose ONE animal from TWO different habitats.
- use the following internet links to find information about your animals.
- use the information to complete the Animal Adaptations Chart provided
below.
- for each chart:
- fill in the name of your animal
- write what habitat it belongs to
- find and write down TWO special adaptations the animal has to help
it survive in its habitat.
- next, write TWO problems the animal might have if it did NOT
have these adaptations.
- choose ONE animal from TWO different habitats.
- use the following internet links to find information about your animals.
- use the information to complete the Animal Adaptations Chart provided
below.
- for each chart:
- fill in the name of your animal
- write what habitat it belongs to
- find and write down TWO special adaptations the animal has to help
it survive in its habitat.
- next, write TWO problems the animal might have if it did NOT
have these adaptations.
Analysing Animal Adaptations Chart | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: |
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This video has a lot of great facts and examples of animal adaptations, but you only have to watch until 15:20.
The information after 15:20 is interesting, but isn't necessary for now (but I suggest watching it on your own time later) |
Desert Habitat
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Polar / Tundra Habitat
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Ocean / Marine Habitat
Forest Habitat
Grassland Habitat
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Rainforest Habitat
Design an Animal with Adaptations
Your task is to design an animal with special adaptations perfectly suited for survival in a specific habitat.
Animals gain and adapt their physical features over millions of years, but our task today is going to cut down that time just a little. You need to pick one of the habitats you've been studying and design an animal which is going to survive in that environment.
You need to consider how this animal:
- is going to stay warm or cool,
- what it is going to eat,
- what is its size,
- how it is going to get its food and water,
- how will it protect/defend itself from attackers,
- where will it shelter,
- and how it is going to care for its young to make sure they survive.
Your animal must fit into the existing food chain - it cannot be the ultimate predator (the one which can eat everything else and nothing can eat it).
To help you, think about animals which have physical features which make them well suited to their environment. This includes animals which are camouflaged to their habitat, features which allow animals to survive in their climate, and features which allow animals to get food and defend themselves. Physical features include:
Elephant - trunk
Shark - sense of smell
Giraffe - neck
Hunting dogs - ears
Lion - color, claws
Gecko - fake tail
Polar bear - coat, color, claws
Kangaroo - hind legs
Skunk - smell
Goat - surefootedness
Use the Designing an Animal Worksheet to create your adapted animal. Here's a link to the worksheet:
Designing an Animal Worksheet
In the rest of the space provided on your sheet (or on a separate piece of paper if you need more space), you need to draw a labelled picture of your creature. Give your animal a name and congratulations! You've created a new animal!
Animals gain and adapt their physical features over millions of years, but our task today is going to cut down that time just a little. You need to pick one of the habitats you've been studying and design an animal which is going to survive in that environment.
You need to consider how this animal:
- is going to stay warm or cool,
- what it is going to eat,
- what is its size,
- how it is going to get its food and water,
- how will it protect/defend itself from attackers,
- where will it shelter,
- and how it is going to care for its young to make sure they survive.
Your animal must fit into the existing food chain - it cannot be the ultimate predator (the one which can eat everything else and nothing can eat it).
To help you, think about animals which have physical features which make them well suited to their environment. This includes animals which are camouflaged to their habitat, features which allow animals to survive in their climate, and features which allow animals to get food and defend themselves. Physical features include:
Elephant - trunk
Shark - sense of smell
Giraffe - neck
Hunting dogs - ears
Lion - color, claws
Gecko - fake tail
Polar bear - coat, color, claws
Kangaroo - hind legs
Skunk - smell
Goat - surefootedness
Use the Designing an Animal Worksheet to create your adapted animal. Here's a link to the worksheet:
Designing an Animal Worksheet
In the rest of the space provided on your sheet (or on a separate piece of paper if you need more space), you need to draw a labelled picture of your creature. Give your animal a name and congratulations! You've created a new animal!