Introduction
PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS
Survival is the continuation of living or existing despite difficult circumstances. This topic is about the places where organisms live and the adaptations they have which help them survive. All organisms have adaptations that help them survive and thrive in their particular environments.These adaptations might make it difficult for the organism to survive if it were moved to a different environment, which explains why certain plants and animals are found in certain areas. for example, you wouldn't see a cactus living in the snow, or a polar bear living in the desert.
Adaptations can be structural, functional or behavioural. An example of a structural adaptation in animals is the special pads on the end of geckos toes which help them to climb. An example of a structural adaptation in plants is having larger leaves in higher up branches which maximises photosynthesis. Leeches have a good functional adaptation which involves releasing digestive juices into their host when feeding from a host which prevents the blood from clotting and enables the leech to get all the food it requires. An example of a behavioural adaptation would be certain spiders having thin bodies which let them lie closer to tree branches keeping them hidden during the day, and coming out of hiding during the night to hunt their prey.
Description: A WebQuest on adaptations for a year 7 science class.
Grade/Level: Grade 7, Stage 4.
Curriculum: Science.
Keywords: plants, animals, survival, adaptations, environments
Author: Tenniele Davis
This WebQuest addresses the following syllabus outcomes:
SC4-14LW Relate the structure and function of living things to their classification, survival and reproduction
SC4-1VA Appreciates the importance of science in their lives and the role of scientific enquiry in increasing understanding of the world around them
Students will learn to:
- Understand the requirements we need to survive and for a species to survive
- Define what is meant by the term adaptation and how adaptations suit organisms to the abiotic factors of their environment
- Describe the adaptations of different animals of terrestrial and aquatic environments and how these adaptations help them survive
- Describe the adaptations of different plants of terrestrial and aquatic environments and how these adaptations help them survive
- Explain what s meant by structural, functional and behavioural adaptations using examples
Task
PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS
Students will research various sources to learn about plant and animal survival and adaptations. They will look at a variety of websites and videos to gather as much informaion as possible.
Students will form small teams of 4 to complete this webquest. Teams will work individually to complete the first part of the WebQuest (Part 1) and as a team to complete Parts 2 and 3. Worksheets will be needed to be printed out and completed to be presented as one big poster to the class as a part of an episode of a TV show. The team will need to choose the title of the TV show and each student must present their individual findings.
Process
PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS
PART 1 (as individuals):
Print out the question worksheets for your chosen environments. Explore the sites listed to answer the questions. When finished share the findings/answers with the members in your team. Include the finished question worksheets in your teams final poster.
Each student is to pick one different Australian environment to research. Write a brief description on the environment chosen. Pictures of the plant and animal chosen for each environment are to be included in the team's poster along with the answers to the questions asked.
Deserts
Go to this site on deserts and answer these questions.
Watch this short video on animals in the Australian desert and answer these questions from the video you just watched.
Choose one plant from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the desert environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Choose one animal from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the desert environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Rock pools
Go to this site on rock pools and answer these questions.
Watch this short video on rock pools and answer these questions from the video you just watched.
Choose one plant from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the rock pool environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Choose one animal from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the rock pool environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Rainforests
Go to this site on rainforests and answer these questions.
Watch this short video on rainforest plants and answer these questions from the video you just watched.
Choose one plant from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the rainforest environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Choose one animal from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the rainforest environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Oceans
Go to this site and answer the following questions.
Watch this short video on animals that live in the ocean and answer these questions.
Choose one plant from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the rainforest environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
Choose one animal from this list and describe some of the adaptations it has to survive in the ocean environment and what type of adaptation it is (structural, functional or behavioural).
PART 2 (as a team):
Construct your poster with each team members findings. This poster will need to be visually pleasing as well as being clear and concise and having a logical flow.
PART 3:
Your team must now present your poster with your findings to your class. Present this in the form of a TV show episode with the purpose of educating your fellow classmates on what you have just learnt yourselves. Come up with a creative TV show name and include different segments in your TV show Episode.
Evaluation
WEBQUEST RUBERIC
|
|
0-1. Needs Improvement |
2. Satisfactory |
3. Good |
4. Exemplary |
Score |
|
Environment questions |
One correct answer |
Two correct answers |
Three correct answers |
Four or more correct answers |
|
|
Video questions |
One correct answer |
Two correct answers |
Three correct answers |
Four or more correct answers |
|
|
Plant adaptations and type |
One adaptation |
Two adaptations |
One adaptation and adaptation type |
Two or more adaptations and adaptation types |
|
|
Animal adaptation and type |
One adaptation |
Two adaptations |
One adaptation and adaptation type |
Two or more adaptations and adaptation types |
|
|
Spelling and Grammar |
5 or more spelling and/or grammar errors |
3-4 spelling and/or grammar errors |
1-2 spelling and/or grammar errors |
0 spelling and/or grammar errors |
|
|
Presentation (poster) |
Not very visually pleasing, hard to understand and does not follow a logical flow |
Visually pleasing, not clear and concise and does not follow a logical flow |
Visually pleasing, clear and concise but does not follow logical flow |
Visually pleasing, clear, concise and contains a logical flow |
|
|
Presentation (individual) |
Did not present information with group |
Presented information, TV show title included, not creative. |
Presented information well, TV show title included, creative. |
Presented information well, TV show title included, creative and included TV show segments. |
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|
Final score |
|
|
|
|
/28 |
Conclusion
Congratulations team!
Your team has successfully researched different plant and animal adaptations in different environments and delivered findings as an informational TV show. Viewers now have a greater understanding of what it takes for certain organisms to survive and thrive in their particular environment. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Lots of work, now for a little bit of play.