Lesson Plan

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

4

Overview

In this lesson, students will explore animal adaptations for a variety of animals.  Students will select one adaptation and create a wanted poster describing the specific adaptation for that animal and how it functions to help the animal survive, grow, behave, or reproduce.  

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 4

SC15.4.9

Examine evidence to support an argument that the internal and external structures of plants (e.g., thorns, leaves, stems, roots, colored petals, xylem, phloem) and animals (e.g., heart, stomach, lung, brain, skin) function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.4.9

Vocabulary

  • argue
  • articulate
  • evidence
  • internal
  • external
  • structure
  • survival
  • function
  • behavior
  • reproduction

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Internal and External structures serve specific functions within plants and animals.
  • The functions of internal and external structures can support survival, growth, behavior and/or reproduction in plants and animals.
  • Different structures work together as part of a system to support survival, growth, behavior, and/or reproduction.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Articulate an explanation from evidence explaining how the internal and external structures of plants and animals function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
  • Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence collected, including whether or not it supports a claim about the role of internal and external structures of plants and animals in supporting survival, growth, behavior, and/or reproduction.
  • Use reasoning to connect the relevant and appropriate evidence to support an argument about the function of the internal and external structures of plants and animals.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Plants and animals have both internal and external structures that serve various functions in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Engage in Argument from Evidence

Crosscutting Concepts

Systems and System Models; Structure and Function

Primary Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, students should be able to do the following:

1) identify special adaptations for a variety of animals.

2) create a wanted poster describing a specific animal adaptation and how it functions.

Procedures/Activities

Engage:  Introduce the topic of adaptations by asking the students if they have ever tried to kill a cockroach that seemed invincible? 

Allow students a few minutes to discuss experiences.  Then explain that cockroaches can sometimes be hard to kill.  Discuss the experiment the Myth Busters team conducted to determine whether or not cockroaches could survive underwater.  

Ask the students to predict what they think will happen to the cockroaches and write their predictions in their science journals.  

Show the video "Drowning Cockroaches" to the students to see if the cockroaches were able to survive underwater.

Discuss how the ability to survive underwater is an animal adaptation the cockroaches possess which helps them to survive in their environment.

Explore:  Pass out the Animal Adaptations graphic organizer.  Read What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? aloud to the students.  Ask the students to listen as you read aloud for any animal adaptations in the book and write them in the graphic organizer. 

Explain:  After reading the book, students  will pick one animal adaptation, research it, and create a wanted poster to describe the adaptation and how it functions to support the animals growth, behavior, survival, or reproduction.  Wanted posters should include: the animal's name, their physical description, where they are usually located (live), and the adaptation including its function.  All Wanted Posters will be posted on the class bulletin board for display.


Engage:  Introduce the topic of adaptations by asking the students if they have ever tried to kill a cockroach that seemed invincible? 

Allow students a few minutes to discuss experiences.  Then explain that cockroaches can sometimes be hard to kill.  Discuss the experiment the Myth Busters team conducted to determine whether or not cockroaches could survive underwater.  

Ask the students to predict what they think will happen to the cockroaches and write their predictions in their science journals.  

Show the video "Drowning Cockroaches" to the students to see if the cockroaches were able to survive underwater.

Discuss how the ability to survive underwater is an animal adaptation the cockroaches possess which helps them to survive in their environment.

Explore:  Pass out the Animal Adaptations graphic organizer.  Read What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? aloud to the students.  Ask the students to listen as you read aloud for any animal adaptations in the book and write them in the graphic organizer. 

Explain:  After reading the book, students  will pick one animal adaptation, research it, and create a wanted poster to describe the adaptation and how it functions to support the animals growth, behavior, survival, or reproduction.  Wanted posters should include: the animal's name, their physical description, where they are usually located (live), and the adaptation including its function.  All Wanted Posters will be posted on the class bulletin board for display.

Assessment Strategies

This lesson will be assessed based on the rubric for the Wanted Poster (see Attachments).

 

Acceleration

Students can put together a scrapbook containing multiple animals grouping them based on similar adaptations.

Intervention

Students who need extra support may be assigned to a partner who is sensitive to the needs of that student. 

Approximate Duration

Total Duration

31 to 60 Minutes

Background and Preparation

Background/Preparation

For Teacher:  The teacher must be knowledgeable about the following:

Adaptations are features that help organisms survive.  These features develop from generation to generation.  Adaptations can be external or internal and they happen naturally. Some examples of external adaptations are fins, fur, legs, necks, a bright color, a trunk, or shells.  Examples of an internal adaptation are gills in fish and hollow bones in birds. 

For Students:  This is an introductory lesson. No prior knowledge is needed.  

Materials and Resources

Materials and Resources

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?, a picture book by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Animal Adaptations graphic organizer (see Attachments)

Wanted Poster (see Attachments)

Grading rubric for Wanted Poster (see Attachments)

Technology Resources Needed

The teacher will need access to a computer and projector, in order to show the video.

Students will need access to the internet to complete the research in the lesson.

Approved Date

2016-04-22
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