Adaptations
Subject: Earth Science
Grade Level(s): Grade 3
Big Idea(s): Through readings and teacher made organism cards students learn about adaptations of organisms in different environments.
What you need: teacher premade organism cards (3 plants, 3 animals per biome)
adaptation worksheet
Setting: classroom tables or groups of desks large enough to display 6 organism cards
Time Needed: 60-90 minutes
Summary:
Students will know that different organisms exist in biomes around the world. Using premade organism cards, students will sort, identify, and discuss structural and behavioral adaptations. Teacher will clarify misconceptions through read alouds and discussion. At the end of the lesson, students will do an art project, creating their own fictional organism and label its structural and behavioral adaptations.
Learning Goals / Objectives:
Students will identify structural and behavioral adaptations within four categories: getting food, movement, protection, and reproduction.
Setup:
6 premade organism cards from each teacher selected biome, teacher selected read aloud on adaptations
Anticipatory Set:
Define environment and discuss different types of environment on Earth (ocean, desert, tundra)
Students can list some examples of plants and animals in their local environment as a class brainstorm.
Instructions / Activities:
- 1. Show students one organism card. 2. Organism cards are handed out and students need to find their habitat common with other students. 3. Introduce what is an adaptation. 4. Through discussion and teacher chosen read aloud, students will know that an adaptation is any structure or behavior of an organism that helps it survive or reproduce in its environment. 5. Teacher gives example of a structural and behavioral adaptation from a local organism. 6. Students discuss possible adaptations for movement, getting food, for protection or defense or for raising young from their organism card. 7. Class discussion on each biome/environment and the adaptations their organsim has to survive or reproduce. Teacher clarifies any student misconceptions on preselected organism cards.
Assessment:
In their science notebook, students imagine, design and draw a fictional animal or plant. Students will label at least 2 structural adaptations and write at least 3 sentences on a behavioral adaptation that their fictional plant or animal contains.
Wrap-up / Closure:
Share class drawings and what biome or environment their plant or animal would be the most successful at surviving or reproducing in.
Tags: Grade 3
Categories: Earth Science