Adaptation and Natural Selection

AS YOU WALK IN…

1.

Get your textbook

2.

BELL WORK: Work on page 81 of your science
textbook

REMINDERS:

1.

SOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT DUE ON FRIDAY MARCH 24

2.

CAST – APRIL 17-18

BRAINSTORM:
Why do you think this plant has flowers that look like
bees?

BEE ORCHID

OBJECTIVE:

• Explore how similar variations in the population due to

inherited mutations can result in an adaptation
over generations

“The Father of Natural Selection”.

Charles Darwin

Born: 1809
Died: 1882

Multiple Choice

How do adaptations help animals?

• to hide from predators

• to hunt for food

• to survive in their habitats

• All of these are correct

Multiple Choice

What genetic change allows organisms to survive natural selection in their environments? 

• learned behavior

• acquired traits

• analogies

• adaptations

Multiple Choice

Survival of the Fittest and Evolution were proposed by what scientist?

• Steven Hawking

• Albert Einstein

• Charles Darwin

• Isaac Newton

Multiple Choice

Predict which moth would increase in population

• light 

• dark

Polar Bear

• Small ears to reduce heat loss
• Thick white fur to help keep the

bear warm and for camouflage in
the snow

• Thick layer of fat to help insulate

for warmth

• Large paws to stop the bear from

sinking in the snow

• Sharp teeth to eat prey easily.

Camel

• Large feet to reduce the pressure

the camel exerts on the sand

• Hump(s) containing fat, which the

camel can use for energy (the fat
doesn’t insulate its body)

• Nostrils are lined with hair and can

shut to stop sand getting into the
nose

• Thick lips, so the camel can eat

prickly desert plants

• Bushy eyelashes to stop sand from

getting in their eyes

Giraffe

• Horns to fight with other giraffes
• Patterned coat for camouflage
• Leathery mouth to eat tough and

prickly plants

• Long neck and legs to help the

animal reach food high up in the
trees

• Long, tough tongue that can grip

leaves and branches

Cactus

• Thick stem full of spongy tissue that

can absorb lots of water

• Spines are curled leaves that decrease

surface area and reduce water loss
through transpiration and deter
animals from eating the plant

• Thick, waxy epidermis to reduce water

loss

• Shallow, but expansive root system to

increase the water uptake

• Stem contains a high density of

chloroplasts for photosynthesis

Barn Owl

• Flexible neck allows the owl to see in

all directions

• Soft feathers for near-silent flight to

catch prey without being heard

• Large wingspan compared to body

mass, meaning they can fly very slowly

• Asymmetric ears allows the owl to

pinpoint the direction of sound with
high accuracy

• Sharp talons to grip prey

Multiple Choice

What is an adaptation?

• a special feature that helps animals survive

• the animal's environment

• the way an animal hunts

• predators eat prey

Multiple Choice

The ability to blend into one's surroundings is called...

• predator

• camouflage

• adaptation

• prey

Multiple Choice

Armor is an adaptation that helps animals...

• hunt

• protect themselves from predators

• run quickly

• blend in with their surroundings

Multiple Choice

Having webbed feet is an adaptation. How do webbed feet help animals survive?

• They stay cool in the summer.

• They can swim faster.

• They can blend in with their surroundings.

• They can attack their prey.

Multiple Choice

Sharp teeth are an adaptation. How do sharp teeth help animals survive?

• Animals can use them to attack their prey.

• Animals can run away from danger.

• Animals can avoid the cold weather.

• Animals can fly away.

Multiple Choice

Camouflage and mimicry are examples of ___________ adaptations.

• behavioral

• special

• physical

• predatory

Multiple Choice

___________ is a term used to describe animals that blend into their habitats.

• Mimicry

• Camouflage

• Adaptations

• Instincts

Multiple Choice

A cub will learn how to hunt by watching and copying its mother, which is a/an ___________ behavior.

• instinctive

• adaptive

• learned

• mimicry

Multiple Choice

What is an adaptation?

• a special feature that helps animals survive

• the animal's environment

• the way an animal hunts

• predators eat prey

Multiple Choice

A green snake blends in so predators can NOT find it. This is an example of?

• Hibernation

• Mimicry

• Migration

• Camouflauge

Multiple Choice

Birds flying south 800 miles to find food and to escape cold winters is an example of

• Hibernating

• Migrating

• Camouflage

EXIT TICKET:

INDEPENDENT CLASSWORK:

MAKE A GOOGLE SLIDE that shows 5 examples of living things and their adaptation
to the environment

Do not include the examples given by the teacher (Polar bear, Camel, Giraffe, Cactus,
Barn owl)

Credits and Copyright

Black-Eyed Susan Science

Next Generation Science Standards

The Sciencesaurus

Sarah Pecorino Illustration

Studio Devanna

Kimberly Geswein Fonts

Teach To Tell

The Painted Crow

https://images.app.goo.gl/ogej
p8vDVURphgYo7

https://allaboutroses2013.wee
bly.com/generalspecial-adapta
tions.html