Structures and Functions & Instinct vs Learned Behaviors

These are the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each line describes what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time they take the STAAR assessment. I have bolded the skill portion of each student expectation to highlight what students must demonstrate.

Structures and Functions

A structure is the way parts are organized or arranged. Leaves are a plant structure. An elephant’s trunk is an animal structure.

Plant and animal structures have specific functions. A function is what something does. Some structures have multiple functions.

Movement

Organisms move in some way. Even plants move. Some animals don't seem to move at all. For example, clams don't walk around! But they do open and close their shells, and in one stage of th eir life cycle clams swim around.

Different organisms use different kinds of structures to move from one place to another.

Palmate

Webbed feet for swimming

Ungulates

Hoofed feet for large weight and endurance

Fish

Clawed feet for living in trees

Herbivorous Adaptation

Animals that have flat teeth are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. They need flat teeth because they need to be able to grind up the plants and leaves they are eating

Carnivorous adaptation

Animals that have sharp teeth are carnivores, meaning they only eat animals. They need sharp teeth because they need to be able to latch onto their prey as they hunt them and shred their prey up to eat them.

Sensing the Environment

As we learned in class, organisms have specific structures that help them sense the environment. Some insects have antannae, snakes can taste the air with their tongue, and most animals, especially birds of prey, like Hawks, have sharp eyesight.

Rainforest

Wide surface area for absorbing the Sun's light.

Waxy leaves to allow water to fall off of them.

Desert

Wide surface area to absorb Sun's light.

Thick stems to violently store water.

Thorns to defend resources.

Hummingbird

Pointy narrow beak to utilize as a straw for nector from flowering plants.

Parrot

Thick, powerful beak to break open nuts.

Traits & Behaviors

Inherited Traits

An inherited trait is a characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring. For example, a baby baby horse inherits the traits of four strong legs and a tail for keeping away pests from its parents.

Instinctive Behavior

An instinct is an inherited behavior. An inherited trait is one that is passed down from parent to offspring. Instincts are present at birth. They do not have to be taught.

Learned Behaviors

A learned behavior is a behavior developed through experience. These behaviors are practiced or taught. These behaviors also help the organism pass on it's traits to their offspring.

Successful Behaviors

A polar bear and her cubs see a seal. The mother bear crouches behind an object so the seal cannot see her. Her cubs copy the behavior and repeat it next time they see a seal.

Successful behaviors like hunting are adaptations that help an organism to survive in its' environment.

Aquired Traits

Traits that are not inherited, by accident or choice (ex: tattoos, scars)

Practice

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