Overview

Grade: 3rd

Topic: Life Science

Standard: L3.LS.1 Offspring resemble their parents and each other.

In this lesson students will be introduced to beavers; learn about their life cycle, and find out how they are adapted to their environment.

Format

• Short video introduction to beavers (10.31)

• 2 activities for students (both have instructional videos)

• Quiz

Materials

Activity 1: Adaptations for an ecosystem

• Student worksheet google doc

• Pencils, crayons, or markers to draw your own awesome animal

Activity 2: Imagination Animals

• Student worksheet google doc

• Adaptation cards- choose one of each color. Or, use the Flippity randomizer. The randomizer works best is all students have access to the link as they will all have different adaptations to include. Great for the students at home that can't print cards.

• Pencils, crayons, or markers to draw your own awesome animal

Lesson

Video Introduction

Watch 10 minute video on beavers

Activity 1: Adaptations for an ecosystem

Students will come up with a list of traits, then draw an animal that contains all of them.

• Instructional video (3.19)

• Student Worksheet Has the information below, including a table they will complete.

You are going to create an imaginary animal that will have specific traits to be able to survive in it's ecosystem.

1. Which Habitat? You are going to create your own make believe animal that has special adaptations to fit a habitat. Which habitat will your animal live in (Ohio Forest Aquatic: River Aquatic: Ocean Prairie/Grassland Arctic Desert)?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Complete the table on the student worksheet: Use your imagination to complete the following table for your animal (remember its make believe, so you don’t have to think about real animals, you could end up with a furry blue whale with hundreds of eyes):

3. Create your animal. Using the habitat you selected and the answers you listed in the table, draw a picture of your imaginary animal.

Activity 2: Adaptation Artistry

Students are given a list of traits and must create an annotated diagram to explain their animal.

• Instructions Video (4.51)

• Students Worksheet

• Adaptation Cards

You are going to create an imaginary animal that must possess certain body parts to survive in its environment.

1. Pick a number for each of the following

• Habitat: Pick a number between 1 and 4 ________

• Movement: Pick an number between 1 and 6 ________

• Shape/Color: Pick a number between 1 and 4 ________

• Senses or other body parts: Pick a number between 1 and 4 ________

• Eating or Breathing: Pick a number between 1 and 4 ________

2. Now look at the cards for each (the color will match the colors above). For example, I picked 2 for habitat so I need to create an animal that lives in the forest. It had movement 6 which means it has to swim, and it was shape 1 so it is round.

3. Write the adaptations your animal has below;

• Habitat: __________________________________________________________

• Movement: __________________________________________________

• Shape/Color: __________________________________________________

• Senses or other body parts: ___________________________________

• Eating or Breathing: ___________________________________________

5. Draw a diagram of your animal making sure it has all of the adaptations that were selected.

6. Label your diagram to show how it uses these adaptations to survive in its environment.

Assessment

Quiz - google forms 10 questions. 8 multiple choice, 2 short answer.

Extensions

Reading These readings are free with registration on ReadWorks, a nonprofit that provides Common-Core-aligned readings. All readings include comprehension questions.

• How animals get ready for winter 294 words, also has 2 questions sets based on the story.

• The Namib beetle and fog sets - Scientists are looking at a special adaptation this beetle has allowing it to survive in the desert. They are trying to see if they can copy it for human use. 271 words and a question set

Questions

Questions? Please contact your county SWCD educator