Animal Adaptations
Readiness
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to compare the structures and functions of different species that help them live and survive such as hooves on prairie animals or webbed feet in aquatic animals.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that help them survive within their environments.
Science Background
Desert Animal Survival: Desert USA (website) - Explanations of survival adaptations used by a variety of desert creatures to acquire and retain water, avoid and dissipate heat, etc.
Desert Animal Survival
Desert USA, www.desertusa.com
Adaptations to an Aquatic Lifestyle: The Wild Classroom (website) – Excellent overview of adaptations in aquatic mammals. Explore the rest of the site for other habitats and adaptations.
Adaptations to an Aquatic Lifestyle
The Wild Classroom, www.thewildclassroom.com
Prairie Ecosystems, Animal Adaptations: Illinois State Museum (website) – Overview of the characteristics that enable prairie animals to survive in their grassland homes.
Prairie Ecosystems, Animal Adaptations
Illinois State Museum, www.museum.state.il.us
Adaptations: Project Beak (website) - Different birds utilize different areas within their habitat. Learn about bird adaptations, including variations in feathers, beaks, feet and communication.
Signature Lesson
Animal Adaptation Activity: SeaWorld/Busch Gardens (PDF) - Students investigate and compare the structures and functions of different animals, focusing primarily on adaptations that enable animals to live and survive. The activity uses learning stations and includes station cards with directions and questions.
Animal Adaptation Activity
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens, www.seaworld.org
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Animal Adaptations: National Park Service (PDF) - Field trip guide that can be used in the classroom to learn about a variety of animal adaptations.
Animal Adaptations
National Park Service, www.nps.gov
Reptile Adaptations: Discovery Education (website) - Students investigate physical and behavioral traits of reptiles to learn how these animals have adapted for survival.
Reptile Adaptations
Discovery Education, school.discoveryeducation.com
Mimicry and Camouflage: BioEd Online (website) - In this lesson (including teacher background, student pages and extensions), students explore and identify unique adaptations that some organisms have developed as survival strategies.
Mimicry and Camouflage
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org
Fashion a Fish: Project WILD (PDF) - Students investigate how fish adapt to their environments, how these adaptations can help fish survive in their habitats, and how adaptation benefits animals in general.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 5
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