Animal+Adaptations

**Third Grade Content Standard:** Plants and animals have certain physical or behavioral characteristics that improve their chances of surviving in particular environments. ​

This unit aims to help students understand why animals have certain traits and behaviors. Through research, students begin to understand how the animal's traits and behaviors help them adapt to and live in their environment. In order to get a better understanding of how animals are uniquely designed to live in the wild, students will complete a brief research project about an animal of their choice. Once they have learned information about traits and behaviors, students can follow the steps below to show their expertise on the animal’s traits and behaviors. A rubric is included at the bottom of the unit. All directions are written in student friendly terms. Examples of each project are also included at the bottom of the page.

__Getting Started:__ Pick an animal that you want to become an expert on. Think about all the different behaviors and traits it has. Make a thinking map using [|bubbl.us] to track your thinking. Remember this is just a start, you don’t have to know every behavior and trait but you should try your best to think outside the box about your animal! When you are finished, print your thinking map and glue it in your notebook.

__Step One__ Use the internet and books to learn about your animal’s habitat. As you learn about where your animal lives, visit [|Google Earth] and take time to explore the area by watching videos and looking at pictures that were uploaded to Google Earth. Think about how hard it would be for YOU to survive in that habitat! After you are done exploring, save one of your favorite images from Google Earth. Share your image to a class blog or print it to add to your science notebook. Don't forget to tell where you got the picture and who the photographer is!

__Step Two __ Continue to research your animal. Remember to take notes or create a graphic organizer in your science notebook to keep track of your learning. Focus on finding out what physical parts of you animal help it to survive (THINK: body parts, size, fur/skin, camouflage, special features). After you have become an expert on how your animal’s physical features help it survive, make an infographic poster to illustrate and label your animal’s key features. Make your infographic using [|piktochart] . Be sure to include the following on your poster: ​  1. Title: Name of Animal  2. Subtitle: A few sentences that tell us about your animal  3. Photograph: One photo of the animals that shows its entire body  4. Arrows pointing four or more body parts that help it survive in its habitat  5. One text box for each arrow explaining why it's an important physical feautre ​ __ Step Three __ Now focus on what kind of behaviors your animal has that also help it survive (THINK: hunting, hibernating, climbing, speed). After you have gathered enough information about your animal, create a [|PowToon] presentation to teach others about the unique behaviors your animal has. You must include a title slide and three slides with one behavior on each slide.

__**Teacher Resources:**__ [|Rubric] for Grading *Includes a score for publishing work*

[|Bubbl.us] example: Penguin [|Google Earth Image Blog Post Example] [|Piktochart Example] [|PowToon Example]