Plant and Animal Adaptations
Adaptations are those differences that appear in a subset of individuals of a plant or animal species that turn out to improve their survival chances in a specific environment.
Those individuals, therefore, tend to produce more successful offspring for that environment. These changes may be physical, behavioral, or both.
Plant and animal adaptations are the essence of survival and change in a species. All living species of plants and animals have adapted over time in response to conditions.
This digital unit is perfect for any middle school science teacher who is teaching remotely!
Animals with useful traits that help them survive in their environment are the animals that survive to have offspring, to which they tend to pass down the successful trait. The offspring with the trait again will tend to be more successful than their siblings without it.
A trait must be used to be considered an adaptation. Leftover features from an earlier adaptation sometimes are seen and are considered "vestigial" traits. If they do not contribute to survival, such traits will disappear in the species over time, because they either don't matter or have become detrimental.
Another way in which animals adapt is through behavioral adaptation, in which a changed behavior contributes to improved survival and is handed down to the offspring of the survivors.
Students will learn about the structure and function of different parts of plants and about animal adaptations. In the same strand of standards is Animal and Plant Cells.
Middle school students will love these online science activities perfect for distance learning. Students will also love learning about human systems like the respiratory system, circulatory system, and digestive system.
NGSS MS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively. [Clarification Statement: Examples of behaviors that affect the probability of animal reproduction could include nest building to protect young from cold, herding of animals to protect young from predators, and vocalization of animals and colorful plumage to attract mates for breeding. Examples of animal behaviors that affect the probability of plant reproduction could include transferring pollen or seeds and creating conditions for seed germination and growth. Examples of plant structures could include bright flowers attracting butterflies that transfer pollen, flower nectar and odors that attract insects that transfer pollen, and hard shells on nuts that squirrels bury.] MS-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence
Utah SEEd Standard 7.4.2 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about a specific animal and plant adaptations and structures that affect the probability of successful reproduction. Examples of adaptations could include nest building to protect young from the cold, herding of animals to protect young from predators, vocalization of animals and colorful plumage to attract mates for breeding, bright flowers attracting butterflies that transfer pollen, flower nectar and odors that attract insects that transfer pollen, or hard shells on nuts that squirrels bury. (LS1.B))
Your digital unit starts with an informative slideshow.
Scaffolded notes are included to assist your students with note-taking and to keep them accountable!
After viewing the slide show, your class will complete interactive drag-and-drop activities based on the material.
You can choose whether or not to include answer keys for your students.
After viewing the first slide show and completing the interactive activities, your class can move on to the second slide show.
And complete additional engaging drag-and-drop activities.
This resource is HUGE! It contains lots of pages and activities. And EVERYTHING can be completed digitally.
In addition to the informative slideshows, your digital unit contains informational text passages with response pages.
Wrap up your unit with a true or false quiz.
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