Adaptive Characteristics

5.10A Engage

Materials Duct, packaging, or masking tape Pinto beans Black beans Kidney beans Small cups

Procedure/Questions Give each group of students 3 cups and a

hand full of kidney, black, and pinto beans.

Procedure/Questions Tell students that their task is to sort the

beans into the cups.

Procedure/Questions

Ask:1.How did you complete the

task?2.Was this activity easy for

you? Why?

Procedure/Questions Wrap one thumb on each student loosely

with tape. Tell the students to empty their cups and

complete the task again. This time they are only to use the hand with the taped thumb.

Procedure/Questions

Ask:1.How did you change your

actions to accomplish this task?

2.How was this a challenge for you?

•Tell the students that our thumbs are an adaptive characteristic that help us survive in our environment.

Connecting to Explore Tell the students that they will be studying

how plants and animals use adaptive characteristics to survive in their environment.

If time permits, tell the students to create a list of all the things they would not be able to do if they didn’t have thumbs.

Interfacing Inquiry What plant and animal adaptations would you

like to explore?