Adaptations: Living in a Changing WorldBy: Suzanne Massey, Laurie Skrobola, Kim Loye

Unit Summary Students will learn about the relationship

between a changing environment and an animal’s need to adapt to that change and then use this information to complete tasks. Students will create an imaginary animal, and then design and build a model of its habitat, while showing at least three adaptations that will enable its survival in that constructed habitat. Students will use Glogster to present projects to the class. Students in small groups will then complete a Venn diagram to show relationships between their animals.

Curriculum-Framing Questions

Essential Question

How do I adapt to the changes in the world around me?

Unit Questions What affects living things? 

Content Questions

  What is adaptation? How do animals meet their needs by using behaviors in

response to information received from the environment?

Adaptations ProjectThis project will help my students develop 21st century skills by: Collaborating with peers through Web 2.0 tools Analyzing data about animal habitats and

drawing conclusions to answer unit questions Solving problems and making decisions about

their animal and its adaptations Communicating ideas with others through a

Glogster presentation

Goals for the Unit To gather information about what

students already know and what they want to know about an animal’s adaptation

Extend knowledge through research and then using higher order thinking skills in order to create a unique animal

Use technology to communicate ideas with others

Helpful Resources Intel Animal Ark Build Your Own Caterpillar