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Mallard's Wet Olympics
Students investigate some of the different characteristics of living things. They make observations from reading and interactive media. Students observe that animals move in different ways and have adaptations to aid in that action.
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Adaptations/ The American Horseshoe Crab
Eighth graders engage in a lesson about the horseshoe crab. They investigate the various adaptations of the organism. Students also conduct research to find how the crab is used for manufacturing different medicines. They synthesize the...
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Science: Why Animals Hibernate
Second graders investigate the reasons animals hibernate. They measure their own heart rates and compare them to those of a hibernating bear. In their journals, 2nd graders record facts about and characteristics of hibernation and...
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Build A "Bug"
Students brainstorm different adaptations that bug would need to live in aquatic environment, and watch presentation where classmate is dressed up in costume to represent adaptations necessary for macroinvertebrate to survive in water.
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Animal Adaptation
Third graders read in their textbooks about how water affects habitats and discuss vocabulary and pictures from the lesson. Then in groups of two, they observe the teacher's example of a headline. They are then assigned to their own...
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Turtle Adaptations
Students identify structural adaptations of different types of turtles, and compare and contrast adaptations of painted turtles, sea turtles, and desert tortoises using a chart.
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Adapting to those strange American ways!
Students edit video tapes of two German immigrants according to the slant: How did you adapt to the strange American ways after immigrating to the Omaha area? Students work in groups to name ten problems immigrants might encounter in the...
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Adapted to Fire
Fourth graders explore forest species' adaptations to fire by participating in a scavenger hunt and mapping a burned forest. Students create maps and explore how indigenous species adapted to living with fire.
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Adaptations
Eighth graders choose an animal and research its various adaptations using
their information, 8th graders create an informational tri-fold brochure or newsletter. They should include facts about the animal's adaptations as well as...
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The Evolution of Canis pedatus
Students examine the given characteristics of a previously unknown dog-like creature, Canis pedatus, to decide if the creatures would survive when relocated to a new environment. They work in small groups to decide whether or not the...
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Change by Chance?
Sixth graders are able to see the role of chance in evolution. The activity is similar to the party game "gossip" or "telephone." Students start off with a drawing of an animal which changes as they pass their copies of the animal to...
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Polar Bear Adaptations
Students explore the adaptations that are made by polar bears. They discuss the color of polar bears as well as the dominant color that is found in the arctic. Students create a polar bear puppet.
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
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The Evolution of Canis pedatus
Students, in groups, examine the given characteristics of a previously unknown dog-like creature, Canis pedatus. They discuss whether or not this species would show adaptations and survive if it were relocated to a new environment.
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Prairie Dog Town
Fourth graders use their knowledge of prairie dog communities to design their own model prairie dog towns. Teachers are provided with background information on prairie dogs and are encouraged to show examples to stimulate creativity. ...
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Biology: Natural Selection
Students explore evolutionary processes and theories using the spotted fish applet. They observe what happens to fish in a closed environment with both food and predators. Students run the model several times and answer questions about...
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Science: All About Fish
Fifth graders describe the physical and behavioral characteristics of fish. In small groups, they complete fish fact sheets by filling in the missing key words. They play a "What Am I?" game by giving clues about various fish for...
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People Interacting with the Environment
Students explore an arctic, temperate, and tropical environment and then decide what people need in each environment to help them live comfortably and what their lives would be like.
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Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms
Eighth graders discover how animals adapt to their surroundings. They identify physical traits and behaviors that are important to survival. They examine the results of an organism's failure to adapt.
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This Place is Going to the Dogs
Students study different breeds of dogs. They watch a video, "Extraordinary Dogs", about special dogs and how they are categorized according to their adaptations. Then they create a digital video that demonstrates the qualities of dogs...
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Build a Bug
Students design an ideally adapted macroinvertebrate to live in a water habitat. They illustrate their animal, name it and specify the adaptations it has that enable it to survive.
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Search for the Humpback Whale
Students work in teams to research and explore whale adaptations, behavior, migration, habitat, communication, and interactions with humans and present their findings.
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You Are Where You Live
Third graders observe insects in a number of habitats. They recognize which insect characteristics are adaptations to their habitats.
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It's For the Birds
Fifth graders examine how anatomical adaptations make it possible for a bird to survive in various habitats. They discuss and list birds and their unique characteristics, and create an imaginary bird, illustrating the environmental...