K12 user ID:  dl017
School District:  Florence Public School
Unit of Study Title:  Adapting for Survival
Topic Area:  Science
Grade Level:  8
Time Frame:  one week
Key Words:  Adaptation, Habitat, Survival

Unit Designer Name:  Dan Lund
Unit Designer E-mail address:  dan.lund@k12.sd.us

Peer Reviewer Name:  Jenny Aas
Peer Reviewer E-mail address:  jenny.aas@k12.sd.us

Link to SD content Standards:                                  

http://www.state.sd.us/deca/TA/contentstandards/index.htm

Science-

Students will recognize the impact of selective breeding, natural selection, genetic defects, and environmental adaptations on the development and survival of species.

           

SD Content Standard Indicators:

Indicator 2:  Analyze various patterns and products of natural and induced biological change.

 SD Content Standard Benchmarks:

describe factors that impact species and/or population changes.

 Other Content Standards:

  1. investigate how organisms adapt to biotic and abiotic factors in a biome.
  2. describe the physical and chemical processes of photosynthesis and its importance to plant and animal life.
  3. describe interactions that exist among members of a biological population. (example: competition, cooperation, social hierarchy, territorial imperative)
  4. describe ways in which organisms within an ecosystem are dependent on one another and on nonliving components of the environment. (example: energy flow in food chains, food webs, and food pyramids.
  5. analyze the relationships among ecosystem dynamics and human activity. (example: change in habitat size, quality, structure)

 

Brief Summary of Unit:  Students will be given information on adaptations that animals need to make for survival.  The students will then create a power point presentation of a particular species and explain how it has adapted so that it increases it chances for survival.   

 

Students will understand why it is important for all animals to adapt. 

Essential Questions to Guide this Unit and Focus Teaching and Learning:

1. What is adaptation?

2. What type of animals adapt?

3. Why is it important for animals to adapt?

4. What habitats allow for the best survival for different types of animals?

5. What would happen if an animal didn't adapt?

6. Are there, or have there been animals that have not adapted?  How do we know?

Key Knowledge and Skills Students will Acquire:

Students will be able to determine the impact the environment plays survival through adaptation.

Students will know what habitats provide the best chance for survival.

Assessment Plan:

Students will be assessed by peers, teacher, and self. 

Students will be assessed by class participation during activities.

Students will create a power point about animal adaptation to be assessed by the teacher.

Learning Activities:

Student interest inventory-I will present information to the students an I will also have them research on their own about types of animals that interest them and what these animals have to offer to the environment.  They will need to base their reasoning on their research. 

 PowerPoint research-Each student will choose an animal of their desire and research beyond the classroom discussions to create a PowerPoint presentation about the different adaptations that each particular animal has made in order to survive. 

 Question and research Data-As the students are doing their research, I will continually ask questions as to why the adaptations they have come up with are essential to the survival of that species.  The students will also provide their own exploratory questions to gain in depth research analysis so that they can provide the best information to the class.

Compare and contrast-Students will be given sets of animals to relate to one anther.  They will use information supplied to them through classroom discussion as well as their own research to determine why some species of animals are more adaptable than others.  The sets of animals will include animals that are in abundance and extinct animals as well as animals that are on the endangered species list.  The students will come up with their own theories as to why certain animals are thriving and why others are struggling for survival. 

Notes:

Internet Resource Link:
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id=4750

http://www.teachervision.com/tv/curriculum/weeklywebadventures/animal_adapt/s_classproj.html

Peer Reviewer Comments:

This unit will challenge the skills of all students.  The activities and assessment is directed to all aspects of the topic.

 

 Click here for my adaptation PowerPoint

 

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