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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 desert / the rainforest / the Arctic (polar)) → woodlandPrompt: Think about where it could find food and stay at a good temperature.
  2. Why could a polar bear not survive well in a hot desert? (Its thick fur and fat would make it overheat. / It needs to eat cactus. / Deserts have no sunlight. / It cannot walk on sand.) → Its thick fur and fat would make it overheat.Prompt: What helps a polar bear in the cold?
  3. Which animal lives in the ocean? (octopus / badger / camel / poison dart frog) → octopusPrompt: 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. Why do ducks have webbed feet? (to grip branches / to keep their feet warm / to dig burrows / to push through water when swimming) → to push through water when swimmingPrompt: Webbed feet work like flippers.
  2. Adaptations: which statement is true? (Every animal can live in every habitat. / Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them. / A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.) → Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators.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. Why do owls have very large eyes? (to keep warm / to look scary / to see well at night when they hunt / to smell food) → to see well at night when they huntPrompt: When are most owls active?
  2. Adaptations: which statement is true? (A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched. / Fish have gills to take oxygen from water. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them. / Every animal can live in every habitat.) → Fish have gills to take oxygen from water.Prompt: Adaptations take many generations to appear.

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. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.
    • B. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.
    • C. An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.
    • D. Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators.

  2. Question 2

    Adaptations: which statement is true?

    • A. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.
    • B. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.
    • C. A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.
    • D. Every animal can live in every habitat.

  3. Question 3

    Why do ducks have webbed feet?

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Why do owls have very large eyes?

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

  6. Question 6

    Why do camels have wide, flat feet?

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

  7. Question 7

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

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

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Answer key: Adaptations to habitats

  1. 1. A. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.

  2. 2. A. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.

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

  4. 4. C. It keeps the bear warm.

  5. 5. A. to see well at night when they hunt

  6. 6. C. so they do not sink into soft sand

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