Amazing Adaptations

Use one or more of the resources below to complete your Amazing Adaptations side quest handout. You can choose the resources based on your interest and/or level of confidence with your ability to identify and explain adaptations. Ask if you aren't sure which level works best for you!

Living organisms live in many places on Earth. They can live in the mountains, the oceans, hot and dry deserts, and in extremely cold and icy climates. An adaptation is a trait that makes an organism able to live in its environment.

All organisms have adaptations. Adaptations take a long time to develop. They do not happen overnight. It can sometimes take thousands of years. For example, giraffes have adapted long necks to help them reach the top of trees. The thick fur of an arctic fox helps it live in the cold weather. Rabbits have fur that turns white in the winter to blend in with the snow. Turtles have a hard shell to protect their bodies.

Some animals can change color to blend into their surroundings, like some rabbits. This is called camouflage. Other animals, such as birds, migrate or fly south for the winter. Animals like bears hibernate, or sleep for the winter. Some plants, like the Venus Fly Trap, can eat insects. These different adaptations help species survive.