Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Life in the Cold: Climate Challenges

For Teachers K - 8th
What does it take to make it in the Arctic? Learners examine the cold weather adaptations of a polar bear that help it survive. With everyday objects, they model these characteristics as they become make-shift polar bears. Modeling helps...
Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Sorting Finch Species

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Don't just tell your class about Darwin's finches ... show them! Sort some of science's most famous birds using an interactive lesson. Learners try their hand at classifying finches using song, sonogram, and beak appearance, as well as...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Frozen Fish? Unique Adaptations of Antarctic Fish

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Some fish contain proteins that act like antifreeze in order for them to live in the frigid waters of Antarctica! High schoolers determine how much antifreeze a fish needs to lower its body temp to -2.5 degrees. Teachers act as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders view slides on the SMART board of physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. In this animal adaptations lesson plan, 4th graders also view a video and match a physical adaptation with the animal it pertains to.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

River Otter Adaptations

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study the body of the River Otter to understand animal adaptations to their habitats. In this animal adaptations lesson, students study the photo of the River Otter and discuss its body. Students then play a game of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Exploring Adaptations: Magic Tree House Polar Bears and the Arctic

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this animal adaptations instructional activity, students respond to the facts presented in the Magic Tree House book Polar Bears and the Arctic. kids cut out cards with animal adaptations. Students cut out Arctic animal picture cards...
Organizer
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In this animal adaptations worksheet, students will complete a graphic organizer by brainstorming 3 animals and an adaptation that animal has that helps it to survive.
Organizer
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Students 1st - 3rd
In this animal adaptations worksheet, students will write down three different parts of an animal that help that animal to live. This worksheet is a graphic organizer with 3 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the adaptation of species through analyzing pictures.  In this scientific discovery lesson, 5th graders discuss the concept of adaptation in order for survival.  Students view many images of extinct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does it Take to be a Survivor? Part One

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore marine animal adaptation. In this introductory ocean life biology lesson, students access prior knowledge by participating in a whole class "thought swap." Young scholars form two lines, respond to a prompt from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gray Whales

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Explore the majestic grey whale while deepening your understanding of animal adaptations. Grey whales from head to toe are specifically designed to fit their environment. Learners will examine the ways in which the flippers, head, body,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Hawaiian Bird

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders make a model of a bird.  In this animal adaptations lesson, 5th graders examine how birds adapt to their environment, using Hawaiian birds as an example. Students create their own bird using adaptation paper cut outs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Exploration

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore whales. In this animal adaptation and whale lesson, students access prior knowledge about whales from previous lessons, then use background knowledge to predict the eating strategies of a baleen whale and a toothed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Animals

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
The class will examine a series of live or stuffed animals in order to learn how different animals survive in distinctive habitats. As they examine each animal, they will be asked a series of critical thinking questions geared at getting...
PPT
Curated OER

Animal Nutrition - Variations, Adaptations, & Regulation

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Colorful pictures and graphics make this a visually-appealing presentation on animal nutrition. Be aware that two of the sixteen slides include blank graphic organizers, so you will need to find the other existing version of this...
Lesson Plan
Pace University

Grade 6-8 Living Things

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What characterizes a living thing? Scholars explore the concept during a differentiated instruction unit on living things. They perform lab experiments to determine how animals adapt to stimuli, watch videos and learn about...
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Get Your Organisms Organized

For Teachers 6th Standards
From large to small, show your class how to organize them all! Included within the guide is everything you need to take their knowledge of classification from the cellular to the species level. The worksheets focus on...
Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Gorongosa: Making Observations Activity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Adaptations

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders participate in an arthropod scavenger hunt. In groups of two, they identify and collect two specimens of arthropods in the school area, and create a table of all the specimens and what class they belong to.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snowy Owl Adaptations

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners explore the adaptations that are made by the snowy owl. They discuss why these adaptations are necessary and how they protect the owl. Students create a snowy owl puppet.
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

A Day inthe Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Although the lesson plan is specifically about the San Francisco Bay area, it's good enough to be adapted to any local region. Children research what the landscape in San Francisco was like prior to settlement, they consider the types of...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Animal Phyla and Plant Divisions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Searched hours for an activity that allows individuals the ability to use multiple resources to learn about both plant and animal kingdoms? This discussion and activity provide pupils with the ability to visualize each organism...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Animals Use Their Senses to Find Food

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students plan a scavenger hunt for food and provide classmates with clues. In this animal adaptation lesson, students view videos showing how various animal species find food. They create a scavenger hunt for their classmates that uses...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wolves At Our Door

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the wolf. In this animal adaptation lesson, students examine the social characteristics of the wolf. They discuss the role of human intervention in reestablishing the wolf population.