Animal Adaptations

In science we have been studying animal adaptations.  We learned adaptations are tools animals have to help them thrive and survive in their habitat.  Animals have adaptations to help them with camouflage, protection, locomotion, temperature, and getting food.  In addition to research we have done a couple experiments to help illustrate different adaptations.



One experiment demonstrated how camouflage helps animals avoid predators.  In the experiment, we placed two different types of cut out butterflies on a patterned paper.  Some of the cut-outs had the same pattern of the paper and the others were solid colored.  The students had 20 seconds to pick up as many butterflies as possible.  The students found that it was way easier to pick up the solid butterflies because they were more visible.  Thus, they concluded that the camouflage protects the butterflies from predators.



A second experiment was designed to show how different bird beaks are better adapted for different types of food.  In this demonstration, students performed twenty second time trials.  In each trial the students used different "beaks" which were tweezers, a spoon, and a clothespin.  The students had to use the beak to collect certain foods.  The foods were marbles, straws, and toothpicks.  The data that the students collected showed which beak was best adapted for which type of food.  Then, we made conclusions about what real life bird beaks this experiment represented.  For instance, the spoon represented a pelican beak and the marbles were fish.



We also had the wonderful opportunity to have ZooMontana present to our students.  All the first and second grade teachers pooled our carnival earnings from last year to bring the ZooMontana educational outreach program to Eagle Cliffs.  It was awesome!  The children loved learning about the adaptations and then actually seeing the animals.  We saw hissing cockroaches, a possum, an owl, and a HUGE snake.  The students even were allowed to pet the snake!  Ahhh!

See if your child can share his/her learning about animal adaptations.  Click here for a wonderful interactive websites and games about animal adaptations.  Also, check out the padlet below that the children commented on after the zoo presentation.