National Geographic
National Geographic: Adapting Under Pressure
Students learn about James Cameron's Challenger Deep dive and about the marine animals that live in different layers of the ocean. They then study the characteristics of the hadalpelagic zone at the bottom of the ocean, and imagine and...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Adaptations: Changes Through Time
People, plants, and animals make minor adaptations all of the time. This lesson will idenitfy why adaptations are critical for survival by diving into pterosaurs.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Episd: Evolution of Life
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Meet Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution and natural selection. Understand why adaptations are important.
BBC
Bbc Newsround: How Cuttlefish Avoid Being Eaten by Sharks
Brief read on an adaptation technique cuttlefish use to avoid being eaten by sharks.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Biology: Evolution
Through informational text, online lab activities, virtual simulations, and video clips, students study the concepts of biological evolution.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Marine Vertebrates
Learn about vertebrates found in the ocean, their individual methods of adaptations, identifying characteristics and contributions to the marine ecosystem.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Mice Rule! (Or Not)
Students explore the relationships between genetics, biodiversity, and evolution through a simple activity involving hypothetical wild mouse populations. First, students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents...
Read Works
Read Works: Passages: "Who Wants a Spiny Snack?"
[Free Registration/Login Required] The passage "Who Wants a Spiny Snack?" focuses on the Pufferfish and how it has adapted to protect itself from predators in the ocean. A comprehension question set with answer key is provided. A Step...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Natural Selection: Common Misconceptions
This video explores the misconceptions that students hold about natural selection. Go inside your student's heads to see what they are thinking during a lesson on evolution. Follow these suggestions for addressing these common...
BBC
Bbc Nature: Wildlife: Shallow Seas
Investigate the fascinating world of the shallow seas and discover what lives and grows there through pictures, news, and external links.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Reptile Adaptations
In this lesson plan site, students examine the changing traits that have enabled reptiles to live in their environments. Interesting information and activities about reptiles are found on this site.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Looking at Bird Beaks
Use this activity as an introduction to adaptations. Students will view video clips of birds and formulate their own observations and explanations for the different types of bird beaks and how they are used.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Organisms' Adaptations
Given scenarios, illustrations. or descriptions, the student will compare variations and adaptations of organisms in different ecosystems.
NOAA
Noaa: Estuaries 101 Curriculum: Biodiversity in an Estuary
This activity introduces students to the amazing biodiversity of an estuarine environment, focusing on the habitats in the Rookery Bay National EstuarineResearch Reserve, Florida. They begin by exploring the estuary using Google Maps....
![Nasa: The Case of the Prize Winning Plants [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Nasa: The Case of the Prize Winning Plants [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
Other
Nasa: The Case of the Prize Winning Plants [Pdf]
This program uses a scenario with fictional detective characters to present plant growth to students. While the unit focuses on the basic needs and parts of plants, the topics of plant classification and adaptations, soil formation and...
PBS
Nh Pbs: Nature Works: Communication
This comprehensive site describes how communication is an adaptation that is important for survival.
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science: 3 Ls4 3: Habitats and Organism Survival
Work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that directly address standard 3-LS4-3: habitats and organism survival.
University of California
South Coast Science Project: Mimicking Plants and Animals Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students are challenged to think about external features that animals and plants have that humans have copied. Students then apply their engineering skills to design a jacket. In addition, this activity introduces the...
PBS
Nh Pbs: Nature Works: Structural and Behavioral Adaptations
This effective site focuses on how structural and behavioral adaptations help organisms survive and reproduce.
PBS
Nh Pbs: Nature Works: Coloration
This competent site describes how structural adaptations help organisms survive. Deceptive and advertising coloration are explained.
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science: 3 Ls4 2: Variation, Survival, and Reproduction
Work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that directly address standard 3-LS4-2: variation, survival, and reproduction
University of Michigan
Michigan Sea Grant: Teaching Great Lakes Science: Fish Identification
In this activity, students examine the physical characteristics of fish that live in the Great Lakes and identify common features that help species to survive in that environment. Downloadable resources include a fish poster, fish family...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Nhmu: Adaptation Scavenger Hunt
Recognize the specific adaptations of living things and relate them to survival within the animals environment.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Nhmu: Birds Will Be Birds
Analyze the physical characteristics of 12 different birds and consider how this enables them to survive in their individual habitats.