Introduction
Welcome 7th Graders! Over the last 3 weeks, we have been discussing animal adaptations and their relationship to their environment. We know how desert animals have adapted to the hot, dry weather in the desert, now it's time to apply the same concepts and discover how animals adapt to living in the vast oceans.
Get your snorkel gear and towel ready! 3....2.....1......DIVE!!!
Task
After exploring the various sites, complete the table provided. Once complete, begin the final evaluation by clicking to the next page.
1. Click on the link below and read the brief refresher in animal adaptations.
http://www.planet-science.com/categories/under-11s/games/2010/09/mission-adaptation.aspx
2. Watch the following video and take notes:
3. View the photos and read the captions for the photos below.
http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/photos/ocean-wildlife/#/school-fish_371_600x450.jpg
4. Complete the table below. Make sure to provide the name, a description of the animal, and how it has adapted to it's environment.
| Animal Name | Where does it live? | Description of Adaptation | Why does it have this specific adaptation? |
Evaluation
Now that you're an expert in ocean adaptations, you will choose one animal from your research, and recreate the habitat as well as the adaptation. You may choose to make a model or a 2D poster. You will then create a second habitat of the same animal, but this time when you illustrate or create the animal, the animal will have an adaptation not appropriate for survival. You will explain why one is more suited than the other one in a written explanation of at least four paragraphs comparing the two versions of the same animal.
Teacher Page
Targets Science Content Standards for CA Schools:
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a. Students know both genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and diversity of organisms.