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Animal Adaptations: Physical and Behavior Characteristics-3 Grade
Animal Adaptations: Physical and Behavior Characteristics-3 Grade
Introduction
Animal adaptations for survival
Length of Lesson – 45 min.
VA SOL 3.4b
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Describe and explain the terms hibernations, migration, camouflage, mimicry,
instinct and learned behavior.
Compare the physical characteristics of animals and explain how the animals
are adapted to a certain environment.
Explain how an animal’s behavioral adaptations help it live in its specific
habitat.
Distinguish between physical and behavioral adaptations of animals.
Gather students on the carpet for the reading of: Animals of the Jungle by Isabel
Fonte, Marco Ferraris (Illustrator)
Review the 4 things that animals need to survive by asking students to recall
examples from the book of food, water, shelter and shape.
Today we will learn about the physical and behavior adaptations animals have
that help them satisfy their basic needs to survive.
Lesson Development
Share several student responses to the question and then offer the following
definition for clarification:
Physical adaptations help animals survive in their environment. Examples
include camouflage and mimicry.
Brainstorm ideas about our human body’s adaptation and demonstrate.
Ex: Walking on two feet instead of 4 limbs.
Trying to pick up a pencil without using your thumbs.
What is a behavior adaptation? Listen to student responses then offer the
definition:
Behavioral adaptations allow animals to respond to life needs.
Examples include hibernation, migration, instinct, and learned behavior.
Brainstorm ideas about our behavior adaptations.
Ex. Our natural sleep pattern is to sleep when it is dark.
Begin the PowerPoint presentation which will show picture examples of the
each adaptation, provide a definition and discuss. Ask for other examples.
Hibernation- Some animals go into a deep winter sleep in which their
body activities slow down and they can live off stored food.
Migrations - Some animals go on a long-distance journey from one
place to another as seasons change.
Camouflage - Various animals blend into their environments to
protect themselves from enemies.
Mimicry - Some animals look like other animals to avoid being eaten.
This adaptation helps protect them from their predators. (For
example, the viceroy butterfly tastes good to birds, but the monarch
butterfly tastes bad. Because the viceroy looks like the monarch
butterfly, it is safer from predators.)
Instinct - Some animals are born with natural behaviors that they
need in order to survive in their environments. These behaviors are
not learned but are instinctive, such as a beaver building a dam or a
spider spinning a web.
Learned Behavior - Some behaviors need to be taught in order for the
animal to survive, such as a bear cub learning to hunt.
Group students into pairs and hand out the Animal Adaptation Activity
Sheet.
Explain that they will use information gathered in the PowerPoint to
complete the activity.
Circulate as the students are working to monitor their understanding of
adaptations and the terms learned today.
Closure
Review the activity sheet as a class allowing different pairs to share their
answers.
Answer any questions about the terms learned today. Have students put
this sheet in their science notebook.
Explain the homework assignment: Using the computer, students will:
1. Look for 3 different examples of animal adaptations, (physical or
behavior)
2. Print the picture for our adaptation collage bulletin board to be created
next week
3. Copy the URL and bring to class Thursday for a class created
PowerPoint on animal adaptations that will be shown to the other 3rd
grade classes.
Homework
Students will use the computer to find 3 examples of an animal adaptations
either behavior or physical. Copy the picture and URL for future classroom
activities. Class time will be provided to complete this homework to
accommodate those students without computer access.
Assessment
Formative – Monitoring of pair activity using the Adaptation Activity Sheet and
review of student pictures for PowerPoint. Looking for understanding of the
vocabulary terms and the ability to detect physical characteristics of animals and
explain how the animals are adapted to a certain environment.
Summative – Unit test to be given once unit activities are completed: Students will
be tested on the following vocabulary terms, hibernations, migration, camouflage,
mimicry, instinct and learned behavior. Compare the physical characteristics of
animals and explain how the animals are adapted to a certain environment.
Explain how an animal’s behavioral adaptations help it live in its specific habitat.
Distinguish between physical and behavioral adaptations of animals.
References
Science Standards of Learnubg Enhanced Scope and Sequence grade 3. (2005). Virginia
Department of Eduacation (animal adaptations: physical characteristics).
Retrieved October 9, 2009, from Virginia Department of Education website:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov
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