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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes

Adaptations to habitats

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.3-LS4-3CCSS NGSS.4-LS1-1England: KS2 Y6 Evolution and inheritance

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Adaptations to habitats.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Habitats and microhabitats

Leads to: Camouflage, warning colours and mimicry; When an environment changes: move, adjust or die out; Structural, behavioural and functional adaptations

Materials: Animal picture cards, Habitat maps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Habitats and microhabitats). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which habitat is the squirrel best suited to? (woodland / the rainforest / the ocean / the desert) → woodlandPrompt: Think about where it could find food and stay at a good temperature.
  2. Woodlice are found under logs and stones. What does this microhabitat give them? (bright sunlight / damp and dark conditions / hot and dry conditions / salty water) → damp and dark conditionsPrompt: Woodlice dry out easily.
  3. Which animal lives in the Arctic (polar)? (walrus / deer / badger / squirrel) → walrusPrompt: Think about whether each animal suits cold, heat, water or trees.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Adaptations to habitats. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why do camels have wide, flat feet?
  • Step 1: Wide feet spread the camel's weight so it does not sink into sand.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: so they do not sink into soft sand
  • Answer: so they do not sink into soft sand
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. An Arctic fox's coat turns white in winter. How does this help? (It stays cooler. / It scares other foxes. / It is camouflaged against the snow. / It can swim faster.) → It is camouflaged against the snow.Prompt: What colour is the ground in winter in the Arctic?
  2. Adaptations: which statement is true? (A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched. / An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat. / Every animal can live in every habitat. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.) → An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.Prompt: Adaptations take many generations to appear.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 7 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Adaptations: which statement is true? (Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals. / Every animal can live in every habitat. / A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.) → Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.Prompt: Adaptations take many generations to appear.
  2. Why do camels have wide, flat feet? (to swim fast / to dig for water / so they do not sink into soft sand / to climb trees) → so they do not sink into soft sandPrompt: Think about walking on a sandy beach.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Habitats and microhabitats.
  • Use concrete materials: animal picture cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Camouflage, warning colours and mimicry; When an environment changes: move, adjust or die out; Structural, behavioural and functional adaptations.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Adaptations to habitats

Name

Date

Score/ 7

  1. Question 1

    Adaptations: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Fish have gills to take oxygen from water.
    • B. Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators.
    • C. An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.
    • D. A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.

  2. Question 2

    Adaptations: which statement is true?

    • A. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.
    • B. A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.
    • C. Fish have gills to take oxygen from water.
    • D. Every animal can live in every habitat.

  3. Question 3

    Why do camels have wide, flat feet?

    • A. so they do not sink into soft sand
    • B. to swim fast
    • C. to climb trees
    • D. to dig for water

  4. Question 4

    Why do owls have very large eyes?

    • A. to smell food
    • B. to see well at night when they hunt
    • C. to keep warm
    • D. to look scary

  5. Question 5

    How does a polar bear's thick layer of fat help it?

    • A. It keeps the bear warm.
    • B. It makes it lighter.
    • C. It helps it breathe under water.
    • D. It helps it see in the dark.

  6. Question 6

    Why do ducks have webbed feet?

    • A. to dig burrows
    • B. to grip branches
    • C. to push through water when swimming
    • D. to keep their feet warm

  7. Question 7

    An Arctic fox's coat turns white in winter. How does this help?

    • A. It scares other foxes.
    • B. It is camouflaged against the snow.
    • C. It stays cooler.
    • D. It can swim faster.

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Answer key: Adaptations to habitats

  1. 1. D. A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.

  2. 2. C. Fish have gills to take oxygen from water.

  3. 3. A. so they do not sink into soft sand

  4. 4. B. to see well at night when they hunt

  5. 5. A. It keeps the bear warm.

  6. 6. C. to push through water when swimming

  7. 7. B. It is camouflaged against the snow.