Adaptations

SOL 2.7 ~ Adaptations
The student will investigate and understand that weather and seasonal changes affect plants and animals. Key concepts include: effects on growth and behavior of living things (migration, hibernation, camouflage, adaptation, dormancy)
How does changing weather and seasonal patterns affect plants and animals and their surroundings?
Living things change as they interact with their surroundings. As seasons change, plants and animals, including humans, respond to changes in temperature, the amount of light, and type of precipitation. We call the changes in response to the environment adaptations.
What is adaptation?
Adaptation - a change an animal goes through to fit its environment
What are some behavioral responses to changes in the environment?
We can observe some of the patterns of behavior in plants and animals as they adjust to seasonal changes in weather. Some environments undergo extreme changes in temperature or other conditions during the year. Living things that live in such conditions have special responses that help them adjust. Migration ~ when animals move from one place to another as a result of temperature changes Animals migrate for different reasons: to find a better climate (better weather) to find better food to find a safe place to live to find a safe place to raise their young Examples of animals that migrate: salmon, humpback whales, Canada geese, monarch butterflies They migrate to survive! Migrating Animals Printouts Animals that Migrate in the Winter Hibernation ~ the inactive periods of animals in the cold temperatures of winter (when animals adapt to the cold weather by going into a deep sleep to survive the winter without food). Examples of animals that hibernate: bats, groundhogs, prairie dogs, ladybugs, box turtles, squirrels, bears Snug in the Snow! Hibernating Animal Printouts Animals that Hibernate Dormancy ~ a period of inactivity Adverse conditions of weather may slow the growth and development of plants and animals (*dormancy), whereas optimal weather conditions may accelerate growth and development. Many familiar trees produce new leaves in the spring and lose them in the fall due to seasonal changes in temperature and light. Trees that lose their leaves are dormant* in winter. Examples of things that can be dormant: bears, hummingbirds, some trees, flowers and plants Camouflage ~ when something changes its color or pattern to help it blend in with the environment This outward coloration that allows animals to appear similar to the plants and places in which they live is known as camouflage. The coloration patterns in frogs are useful examples of camouflage in an animal’s habitat. Examples of animals that blend in with their environment (camouflage): polar bear, frogs, Artic fox Camouflaged Animals Printouts Camouflage Field Book
Try it out!
Hibernate or Migrate??	Vocabulary Review	Rags to Riches
Animal Adaptation Quiz	Creature Feature Adaptations	Animal Adaptations Game
Students should be able to: Identify growth and behavioral responses of plants and animals to weather and seasonal changes. Examples of responses that are adaptive include migration, hibernation, and dormancy. Identify animals that migrate, hibernate, or show other changes throughout the seasons or in the presence of adverse environmental conditions. Compare and contrast the responses of plants and animals to weather and seasonal changes. Evaluate the usefulness of camouflage in an animal’s habitat (for example, coloration patterns in frogs). Migration Game (outdoor or gym activity)