| Title: Fitting
in With Adaptations |
| Subject: Science
|
| Grade Level: 7
|
| Overview:
|
| This lesson introduces students to the idea that animals must be
able to adapt to their environment in order to stay alive. Students
will research the different types of adaptations that are observed in
nature. They will define adaptations, chose local and marine animals,
and describe the specific adaptations of their picks. Students will
also describe the four ways animals live in the desert. |
| Approximate
Duration: 10 days |
Content Standards:
- Life Science
The students will become aware of the characteristics and life
cycles of organisms and understand their relationships to each other
and to their environment.
|
Benchmarks:
- LS-M-D1
describing the importance of plant and animal adaptation,
including local examples; (1,3,4,5)
- LS-M-D2
explaining how some members of a species survive under changed
environmental conditions. (1,2,3,4,5)
|
Interdisciplinary Connections:
- English/Language Arts : Standard 5
Students locate, select, and synthesize information from a
variety of texts, media, references, and technological sources to
acquire and communicate knowledge.
|
Educational Technology Standards:
- Use information, media, and technology in a responsible manner
which includes following the school's acceptable use policy,
adhering to copyright laws, respecting the rights of others, and
employing proper etiquette in all forms of communication.
- Use multimedia tools and desktop publishing to develop and
present computer-generated projects for directed and independent
learning activities.
- Understand Internet concepts (e.g., website, hypertext link,
bookmarks, URL addresses) and apply intermediate on-line searching
techniques (e.g., employ keyword, phrases, and Boolean Operators).
|
Objectives:
TLW define animal adaptations and explain why they are important.
TLW find local animals with specific adaptations to help them survive
in their environment.
TLW describe 3 marine animals adaptations
TLW list and define four ways an animal survives in the desert.
TLW organize information into an animal newsletter. |
Lesson
Materials and Resources:
Books for research |
Technology
Tools and Materials:
Hardware:
Computers/ Laptops
Software:
Microsoft Publisher
Other:
Trackstar Activity <http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=138169> |
Background
Information:
Students should be able to save a document, cut and paste, find
pictures from the internet and paste them on their documents.
Students should also have a basic knowledge. ecology. |
Lesson
Procedures:
1. TLW use trackstar and follow the directions for "Fitting In".
Students will work in pairs gathering information from the sites and
recording it on paper.
2. TLW go to Microsoft Publisher and choose a newsletter templet.
3. Using the information gathered from trackstar, TLW write four "news
articles" for their newsletter. The articles will include, WHAT IS
ANIMAL ADAPTATION, LOCAL ANIMAL ADAPTATION, MARINE ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS,
AND HOW ANIMALS SURVIVE IN THE DESERT.
4. TLW decorate their newsletter using clip art and animal pictures
taken off the internet.
|
Assessment
Procedures:
Newsletter (formal)
Class participation (Informal) |
Accommodations/Modifications:
Students who are not computer literate will be partnered with students
who are stronger.
----- written by
Lisa Durham
|
Explorations
and Extensions:
Students may wish to do further research into animal adaptations and
write additional articles for their newsletter. |
Lesson
Development Resources:
Trackstar
Microsoft Publisher |
Contact
Information:
Lisa Durham
lisa.durham@mcschools.net
Robert E Lee Jr. High |
