Adaptations Resources

In this standard, students build upon previous knowledge of animal adaptations, prior to the introduction of natural selection later in the year.  A misconception is that animals can pick or develop adaptations.  A key idea is that these adaptations lead to survival and then reproduction.

Power Standard: Describe how successful adaptations lead to a likely increase in survival of offspring.

State Standard: 7.MS-LS1-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures increase the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants.

How do organisms use structural and behavioral adaptations to survive the environmental conditions of Massachusetts?

How can we best communicate our observations of organisms in the environment?

Creature Feature Stations: Students bring to the classroom amphibians, insects, and reptiles of Massachusetts to study.  Students identify common adaptations in the major groups, as well as specific adaptations of species within the group. Students practice scientific sketching to hone observation skills. 

Creature Feature Project: One of our major research project of the year, students research an animal species native to Massachusetts.  Students also  build a model representing the function of an adaptation unique to that species.

Practice! Bird adaptations

exoskeleton/ endoskeleton Hard support structure outside/inside.  TIP: "exo-"

 sounds like exit and "endo-" sounds like "in".

endothermic/ ectothermic Heat from within or heat from outside TIP: "ecto-" is very similar to "exo-"

No items released for the standard yet.