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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 octopus best suited to? (the ocean / the Arctic (polar) / woodland / the rainforest) → 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? (Its thick fur and fat would make it overheat. / It cannot walk on sand. / It needs to eat cactus. / Deserts have no sunlight.) → Its thick fur and fat would make it overheat.Prompt: What helps a polar bear in the cold?
  3. Which animal lives in woodland? (deer / fennec fox / snowy owl / blue whale) → deerPrompt: 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. 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.
  2. Adaptations: which statement is true? (An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them. / Every animal can live in every habitat. / A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.) → 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 · 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 5 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. Adaptations: which statement is NOT true? (Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals. / Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators. / Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them. / An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.) → Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.Prompt: Can an animal decide to change its body for its babies?
  2. Why do ducks have webbed feet? (to grip branches / to push through water when swimming / to dig burrows / to keep their feet warm) → to push through water when swimmingPrompt: Webbed feet work like flippers.

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/ 5

  1. Question 1

    Adaptations: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Cactus spines help reduce water loss and protect it from animals.
    • B. An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.
    • C. A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.
    • D. Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators.

  2. Question 2

    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.

  3. Question 3

    Adaptations: which statement is true?

    • A. An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.
    • B. Animals choose to grow adaptations when they need them.
    • C. Every animal can live in every habitat.
    • D. A giraffe's neck grew longer because its parents stretched.

  4. Question 4

    Why do camels have wide, flat feet?

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

  5. Question 5

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

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

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Answer key: Adaptations to habitats

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

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

  3. 3. A. An adaptation is a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat.

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

  5. 5. C. It keeps the bear warm.