LS.4.1.3
Engage in argument from evidence to explain how differences among animals of the same population sometimes gives individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing in changing habitats.
Embedded Files
District Recommended Resources for 4th Grade Science
Animal Studies
Kit rental options are available. See your administrator.
Science Phenomena Resources
Next Generation Science Standards YouTube Channel
Step 1: Lesson Standards & Learning Goals
Dimension 1:
SEP: Engage in Argument from Evidence: Construct and/or support an argument with evidence, data, and/or a model (NSTA SEP Matrix).
Dimension 2:
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Clarification Statement: Examples of cause and effect relationships could be plants that have larger thorns than other plants may be less likely to be eaten; animals with camouflage may avoid danger making them more likely to survive and reproduce.
Dimension 3:
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
LS2.C When the environment changes in ways that affect a place’s physical characteristics, temperature or availability of resources, some organisms survive and reproduce, others move to new locations, yet others move into the transformed environment, and some die.
LS4.B Sometimes the differences in characteristics between individuals of the same species provide advantages in surviving, finding mates and reproducing (A Framework for K-12 Science Education).
Sample Essential Questions
Sample Essential Questions
How does variation provide an advantage for an organism? (i.e., aid in survival)
How does the environment impact which characteristics provide an advantage to a given animal?
How do variations within a population of animals affect their ability to survive in different environments?
What specific traits might help certain individuals survive better than others when their habitat changes?
Why is it important for animals of the same species to have differences in their traits?
How do these differences contribute to the overall survival and reproduction of the species?
How can we use evidence to argue that certain traits provide a survival advantage in specific environments?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
adaptation
camouflage
characteristics
habitat
hibernation
instinct
migration
reproduction/reproduce
species
survival
variation
Students will be able to...
Students will be able to...
Students explain a phenomenon that relates to variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species (e.g., coyote’s fur color. Some individuals are better able to survive if they have a lighter vs. darker coat, depending on what camouflages best in their environment).
Students use evidence and reasoning to construct an explanation for the phenomenon (e.g,. looking at the surrounding environment for animal coloration).
Students describe the given evidence necessary for the explanation, including:
a given characteristic of a species (e.g., thorns on a plant, camouflage of an animal, the coloration/patterns of caterpillars or moths).
the patterns of variation of a given characteristic among individuals in a species (e.g., longer or shorter thorns on individual plants, dark or light coloration of animals)
potential benefits of a given variation of the characteristic (e.g., the light coloration of some moths makes them difficult to see on the light-colored bark of a tree).
Explain that some characteristics make it easier for organisms to survive, and reproduce; and those characteristics give some organisms an advantage over other organisms of the same species that don’t have those characteristics (e.g., an individual predator can run faster than their peers- they might be able to catch more prey, a more brightly colored male attracts more females. Note: Sometimes the fact that a particular species has such narrow adaptations (e.g. the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker prefers old growth longleaf pines to nest in) makes it more difficult for those animals to survive in the landscape compared to others (e.g. the northern flicker, another woodpecker, is more of a generalist and can nest in various tree species in lots of different types of environments).
Students will know...
Students will know...
The physical features of plants and animals are suited to the environments in which they live.
There is variation among individuals of one kind within a population.
Sometimes variation in characteristics results in individuals having an advantage in surviving and reproducing.
Survival advantage is a characteristic that an organism already possesses, not a choice.
Step 2: Assessment
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessments
Writing Prompts
Imagine you are a scientist studying a population of birds in a forest. Some birds have long beaks and others have short beaks. Write an argument explaining how having a long or short beak might help these birds survive if the forest environment changes.
Think about a population of butterflies where some have bright colors and others have dull colors. Write an argument supported by evidence about how these differences might help or hinder their survival in a changing habitat with new predators.
Write an argument explaining how variations in the thickness of fur in a population of wolves might give some individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing in a habitat that experiences colder winters.
Mini Projects and Investigations
Interactive Survival Game:
Objective: Design a board game that teaches how different traits impact animal survival in changing environments.
Materials: Cardboard, markers, game pieces, index cards, and dice.
Instructions: Students design a board game where players must navigate challenges in changing habitats. The game should include cards or spaces representing different traits and explain how these traits affect survival.
Mastery Connect
Mastery Connect
LS4.1.3 Summative-Biamby-WCS
LS4.1 Summative-Biamby-WCS (UNIT ASSESSMENT)
NCDPI Formative Assessment Samples
Culminating Activity
Survival Advantage Comic Strip:
Objective: Develop a comic strip that illustrates how certain traits help animals survive and reproduce.
Instructions: Students create a comic strip with at least six panels showing a population of animals facing a change (such as fire, flooding, disease, etc.) in their environment. They should illustrate and narrate how individuals with different traits fare in the new conditions.
Step 3: Lesson Instructions
Possible Activating Strategies
Possible Activating Strategies
Additional Literacy Connections
"What If You Had Animal Teeth?" by Sandra Markle
"Adaptation and Survival" by Louise Spilsbury
"What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?" by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
"The Great Migration: Journey to the North" by Eloise Greenfield
"Amazing Animal Adaptations" by Jackie Glassman
epic!:
EBSCO
Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar (article)
CommonLit:
Teacher Resources
Teacher Resources
Smithsonian Videos showing How Animals Use their senses to communicate
Livebinder Resource (Note: This is an old resource and some of the links no longer work. However, there are some good resource links still available through this Livebinder.)
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