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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 octopus best suited to? (woodland / the rainforest / the desert / the ocean) → the oceanPrompt: 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? (It needs to eat cactus. / It cannot walk on sand. / Deserts have no sunlight. / Its thick fur and fat would make it overheat.) → Its thick fur and fat would make it overheat.Prompt: What helps a polar bear in the cold?
  3. Which animal lives in the Arctic (polar)? (starfish / sloth / polar bear / toucan) → polar bearPrompt: 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. How does a polar bear's thick layer of fat help it? (It keeps the bear warm. / It helps it breathe under water. / It makes it lighter. / It helps it see in the dark.) → It keeps the bear warm.Prompt: The Arctic is very cold.
  2. Adaptations: which statement is true? (Every animal can live in every habitat. / Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals. / 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.

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? (Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them. / Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals. / A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched. / Every animal can live in every habitat.) → 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 climb trees / to dig for water / so they do not sink into soft sand / to swim fast) → 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

    Why do ducks have webbed feet?

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

  2. Question 2

    Adaptations: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.
    • B. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.
    • C. Fish have gills to take oxygen from water.
    • D. An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.

  3. Question 3

    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. Every animal can live in every habitat.
    • D. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Why do owls have very large eyes?

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

  6. Question 6

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

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

  7. Question 7

    Why do camels have wide, flat feet?

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

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Answer key: Adaptations to habitats

  1. 1. B. to push through water when swimming

  2. 2. B. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.

  3. 3. D. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.

  4. 4. C. It is camouflaged against the snow.

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

  6. 6. D. It keeps the bear warm.

  7. 7. B. so they do not sink into soft sand