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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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 deer best suited to? (the ocean / the desert / woodland / the rainforest) → 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 desert? (toucan / badger / snowy owl / rattlesnake) → rattlesnakePrompt: Think about whether each animal suits cold, heat, water or trees.

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 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 is camouflaged against the snow. / It scares other foxes. / It can swim faster. / It stays cooler.) → 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. / Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators. / Every animal can live in every habitat. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.) → Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators.Prompt: Adaptations take many generations to appear.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. How does a polar bear's thick layer of fat help it? (It makes it lighter. / It helps it breathe under water. / It helps it see in the dark. / It keeps the bear warm.) → It keeps the bear warm.Prompt: The Arctic is very cold.
  2. Adaptations: which statement is NOT 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. / Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals. / Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators.) → A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.Prompt: Can an animal decide to change its body for its babies?

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

  2. Question 2

    Adaptations: which statement is true?

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

  3. Question 3

    Why do owls have very large eyes?

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Why do camels have wide, flat feet?

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

  6. Question 6

    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

  7. Question 7

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

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

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Answer key: Adaptations to habitats

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

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

  3. 3. D. to see well at night when they hunt

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

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

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

  7. 7. B. It keeps the bear warm.