Investigation Pack

Overview:
What are we looking at? In this investigation you will look at different environments
and what adaptation animals need to survive there. You will also explore what can
happen to your environment and its inhabitants when a dangerous event occurs.

Work through this investigation in your group. Each part contains a writing
component, rotate through scribing for your group. Write your answers in the space
provided. Nominate one person to collect materials.

Enjoy your investigation journey!

Group members:
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

Part A:
You have received an environment box. Open it up, what can you see? What
environment might this be?

Work together to answer and record the following questions:

1. What environment could you make out of all these materials?

2. How did you come to your conclusion?

Environment = _________________________________

Reasoning = ___________________________________________________________

Part B:
Using the materials in your environment box construct your interpretation of that
environment (find your allocated space at the back of the classroom). Take a photo
of your environment and upload here.
Part C:
Now that you have built your environment consider what makes it special or unique.
use your iPad’s to investigate the following questions:

1. Where in the world is your environment?

2. What is the weather/climate like in your environment?
3. What characteristics make your environment special?
4. What animals live in your environment?
5. What kind of adaptations do those animals have in order to survive in your
environment?

Add your investigation notes here:

Question: Notes:
Where in the
world is your
environment?

What is the
weather/climate
like in your
environment?

What
characteristics
make your
environment
special?

What animals
live in your
environment?

What kind of
adaptations do
those animals
have in order to
survive in your
environment?
Part D:
After finishing your information investigation use your new knowledge to label your
environment. Consider the following items to label:

- 5 characteristics of your environment

- 4 animals that live in your environment (and what adaptations those animals
have)
- 3 countries your environment is
- 2 interesting facts about your environment
- 1 label for your environment space

(highlight what information you labelled on your investigation notes)

Part E:
Get your team and walk around the classroom and explore the other environments.
Look closely but be careful not to touch. Leave your peers two stars and a wish.

After returning to your area read through your feedback, discuss and make any
changes you feel necessary. Attach your two stars and a wish forms below.
Part F:
Consider the following problems and discuss as a group:

1. Predict what would happen to your environment if the global temperature

increased 10 degrees.
2. Predict what would happen to your environment if the global temperature
decreased 10 degrees.
3. Consider what would happen in your environment if the top predator was
eliminated?
4. Would the ecosystem still function? Would other species take over?

Write your ideas below.

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4

See next page for part G.

Part G:
Your environment is under threat! Your teacher has told you about a catastrophic
event that your environment is facing. Brainstorm your ideas regarding the short
term and long term effects of this event.

CAUSE

What was the event? Who or what caused it?

IMMEDIATE EFFECT

What might happen because of the event? What could be the immediate effect?

SHORT AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS

What might happen next? What could be the short and/or long-term effects?

Part H:
In your science journals write an individual response in their science journals to the
following questions:
1. How did my group work well in completing the investigation pack?
2. How could my group have improved our investigation?
3. What is something new I learnt today about environments and their
relationships to animal adaptations?

Congratulations, that’s the end of your investigation