Plant and Animal Adaptations

Activity #1 – What is an adaptation?

Before choosing a plant and animal you need to know what an adaptation is.  An adaptation is a special feature or behavior that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.  Click on the links below to examine different kinds of physical and behavioral adaptations.

Mixed Adaptations Links:

Adaptations Quiz 

Adaptations Links

4 Specific Adaptations

Plant Adaptation Links

More Adaptation Links

Physical Adaptation Links:

Bird Beaks

Bird Feet

Behavioral Adaptation Links

Behavioral Types

Migration Link

Now that you know what adaptations are all about you are ready to start your project.

Activity #2 – Choose your plant and animal.

Hooray!  It’s time to choose your plant and animal.  Remember to choose a plant and animal that have interesting adaptations.  Research your plant and animal using the research worksheet (open the research worksheet link at the bottom of the page and print it).  Click on the links below to help you find information.  Don’t forget that you can also use books, magazines, and other materials to find information.

Plant Links:

http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/currl/plants/default.htm

http://www.enature.com/home/

http://www.kathimitchell.com/plants.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/

Animal Links:

http://go.grolier.com/ - Requires a subscription to the site.

http://pbskids.org/krattscreatures/flash.shtml

http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/atoz/atoz.html

http://www.thinkquest.org/library/cat_show.html?cat_id=843

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/

Activity #3 – Create your PowerPoint presentation.

Now that you have all your information it’s time to organize it into a PowerPoint.  Here is an example of how we like to present information in our virtual zoo. 

A PowerPoint Example is listed below under attachment #2.  The example is only about an animal so you will have more options when deciding on a plant.

Print a rubric to assist in completing your PowerPoint.  The rubric is listed below under attachment #3.

Required Elements: For both a plant and an animal.

Title Slide – Plant/animal name, picture, presenter names.
Adaptations Slide – One or more adaptations with descriptions.
Habitat Slide – A description of the plant/animal’s habitat.
Fact Slide – Food, size, and information about reproduction.
Other Information Slide(s) - Other interesting information about your specific plant and animal. 
Resources Slide – Should be the last slide and contain websites and other resources used.
Pictures and slide transitions are highly recommended.

Be creative with your PowerPoint and don’t be afraid to use lots of color, sounds, slide transitions, and pictures.  Make sure you list all of your informational sources on the last slide of your PowerPoint presentation.

Activity #4 – Present your information.

Lights, Camera, Action!  You’re the star as you present your PowerPoint to the class.  Be prepared to answer questions about your plant and animal.  Note cards about your PowerPoint are a good thing to have so you don’t have to just read it from the PowerPoint.

Activity #5 – Optional for Extra-credit – Create a model.

Seeing is believing!  We’ve seen your PowerPoint but we would love to see your plant and/or animal’s adaptation in action.  Design a model of your plant and/or animal’s adaptation.  Show how the adaptation works and explain how it is effective in keeping your animal alive in its habitat.  Write a short paragraph to attach to the model explaining about how it works.