Activity 3:  Animal Adaptations (GLEs:  1, 2, 3, 10, 41, 52, 53)

Safety note:  Peanuts and other nuts may be used in this activity for demonstration purposes. Be aware of any allergies that students may have to these foods.

CC:  Students will research a chosen bird or other animal that can be found in Louisiana. Working in cooperative groups, have the students use field guides, the Internet, multimedia resources, and other available resources to compile a list of adaptations of the chosen animal that have allowed it to survive in its habitat over time. For example, students may research animals that have webbing in their feet such as frogs, beavers, otters, ducks, etc., birds that are waders such as the Great Egret, with its long legs, or animals that burrow in the mud such as crawfish. The students may be guided to research the animal's method of mobility, the reason for the webbing of the animal's feet and the necessity for wading birds to have long legs. Students will draw pictures, emphasizing and labeling the adaptations, or use photographs of the animals that clearly illustrate the traits. The students will present their findings to the class using posters or multi-media presentations. The students will explain how the animal's adaptation allows it to survive in a given habitat.

Some suggested websites for student research are:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

http://www.wlf.state.la.us

This website has a tremendous amount of resources available to teachers & students. You can request for an agent to come to your class as a guest speaker too.

Animal Planet

Unitedstreaming videos

Animal Adaptations (24:00)

Animals Around Us: Animal Adaptations: What Are They? (14:00)

Animal Features and their Functions (13:00)

Creature Features: Adaptation (05:00)

WORLDBOOK

http://www.worldbookonline.com

Search term - "animal adaptations"

Encyclopedia Articles - 30 items

Pictures - 1 item

Back in Time - 19 items

Special Reports - 3 items