Animal Adaptations

Lesson Title - Animal Adaptations

Background Knowledge - An adaptation is a change to an animal or other organism to help it survive in a new environment or to survive in its current environment (National Geographic Society, 2023).  Changes are gradual and occur over generations of a species through genetics that are passed down (National Geographic Society, 2023). Adaptations can act on an organism biologically, which alters body functions or behaviorally, which alters behavior (National Geographic Society, 2023). Animal adaptations are important because they enable organisms to continue to survive despite changing environments.

Instructional Context - This lesson is geared toward preschool and kindergarten children. Kindergarten children may be more ready for follow-up activities. The introduction to animal adaptations, however, is more than suitable for preschoolers. This lesson is meant to be a hands-on introduction to adaptations. This lesson focuses on behavioral adaptations rather than morphological ones since children are changing their actions and behavior. It is meant to be the beginning of/introduction to learning about adaptations, so no background knowledge is needed for this lesson. Deeper and more specific lessons on adaptations should follow this one. This lesson works better with a smaller group. For a larger class of children, divide into small groups and complete the lesson with each group.

Learning objectives - Children will be able to define an adaptation and give an example.

Items needed - Playground cones or chairs

   Playground hurdles or a dowel rod

   Tape (masking tape or painter tape)

   An open space in the classroom

   Pictures of animals in their environment

Prep Work - Clear an open space in the classroom. Place two pieces of masking tape a distance apart from each other (8 or more feet so that children can walk from one to the other). Have other materials at the ready.

Instructions: (Very loosely based on strategies from Sarah Lalonde (2021))

*Click here to see a video example of steps 1-15 performed with just one child. Plan more time for a group of children to complete*

1. Gather a small group of children in a circle in an open space in the classroom
2. Point out the two pieces of tape that you have placed on the floor
3. Ask a child to move from one piece of tape to another
4. Ask the children to observe how the child moves
5. After the first child has gone, ask one or two more children to move from one piece of tape to another
6. Question the group if any of the children moved differently
7. Listen to what they come up with. For older children, it may be appropriate to write down answers on a whiteboard or large paper.
8. Now, put some playground cones or chairs scattered between the two pieces of tape.
9. Have 1-3 children go from one piece of tape to another
10. Again, question the group about what was different about how the children had to move from one piece of tape to another this time versus when you asked the first time
11. Listen to what they come up with (may say they had to go around cones or walk zigzags or not walk in a straight line). These answers can be added to any board or paper which answers are being recorded on.
12. Finally, add in playground hurdles or a dowel rod placed between two chairs
13. Have another 1-3 children travel from one piece of tape to another
14. Again, question the group what was different about how the children had to move from one piece of tape to another this time versus the previous two times you asked
15. Listen to what they come up with (may say they had to go around hurdles, crawl under them, or jump/hop over them). These answers can be added to any board or paper that answers are being recorded on.
16. After hearing the answers, try to summarize and connect the lesson to adaptations. Possible language, “So I’m hearing that each time that I changed the objects in the room between the tape pieces, our friends had to change how they moved from one piece to the other. This is similar to how animals act in nature. When the animals’ environment - the place that they live - changes, then the animals must change or adapt so that they can survive. Animals may change their behavior like you all did when moving, you moved and behaved in different ways to adapt to the obstacles. Sometimes though, animals’ bodies change, like having different colors or different-sized feet or legs so they can adapt and survive in their own environment. Any change that lets the animal survive is an adaptation.”
17. Look at some pictures of examples of adaptations found in nature. Pictures and explanations of anole lizards, adapted toe pads, and leg sizes are included here, but you are welcome to find your own examples.
18. Wrap up the lesson by restating what an adaptation is and asking the children to give a few examples of adaptations.

Optional Follow-Up Work:

1. Looking at other adaptations
2. Reading more about adaptations
3. Worksheets on adaptations Anole Lizard Worksheet

Differentiation - To extend this lesson for older children:

1. Have the child research an animal adaptation and share it with the class.
2. Have the child name how he/she adapts to different environments. For example, how do you adapt to being in water, being in the woods, or being in a car?
3. Have children get creative with adaptations. What adaptations would a dog need to live in water? Or a cat to fly? Get creative and silly!
4. Have children create their own animals. What environment does it live in? What adaptations does it have to allow it to live there?

Works Cited 

Lalonde, Sarah (2021, November 30). Animal adaptations: Five strategies for teaching this important concept. STEM Activities for Kids. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://stemactivitiesforkids.com/2021/11/30/animal-adaptations-five-st…;

National Geographic Society (2023, October 19). Adaptation. Education. Retrieved April 1, 2024, from  https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/adaptation/