Investigating Adaptations in Local Environment
Summary
This activity is intended to supplement and extend concepts presented in FOSS Populations and Ecosystems. Students will review and apply knowledge about adaptations to organisms in our local environment.
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Learning Goals
This activity is designed for students to:
- Utilize observational and recording skills in an outdoor setting
- Apply knowledge from the classroom to a real world setting
- Analyze how features found in organisms in our area are adaptations for our specific ecosystem
Students will review and understand that:
- An adaptation is any trait of an organism that helps it survive and reproduce in its environment.
- Adaptations can be structural or behavioral
- Adaptations will be influenced by the ecosystem that an organism lives in because of competition
- Utilize observational and recording skills in an outdoor setting
- Apply knowledge from the classroom to a real world setting
- Analyze how features found in organisms in our area are adaptations for our specific ecosystem
Students will review and understand that:
- An adaptation is any trait of an organism that helps it survive and reproduce in its environment.
- Adaptations can be structural or behavioral
- Adaptations will be influenced by the ecosystem that an organism lives in because of competition
Context for Use
I intend to use this exercise to reiterate and localize concepts from the FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Adaptations Investigation. In my case, there will be approximately 25 students in each section, and I plan to use an adjacent courtyard area. I expect that this activity will take 2 class periods, depending on the particular class dynamics and the depth at which I choose to discuss observations in a follow up. As this is an extension and application activity, I expect that students will have mastered the concepts about adaptations covered in the FOSS module. This will be an opportunity for me to assess how well they have understand and can transfer the ideas that we have been working on in class.
This activity could be modified for other aged students, with more or less teacher direction as needed.
This activity could be modified for other aged students, with more or less teacher direction as needed.
Description and Teaching Materials
Materials:
- "Elements of Biology: Biomes: The Adaptations of Organisms" sections of which I will be accessing through Discover Education
Introduction:
As this is the culmination of a FOSS lesson, I will be reviewing the concepts we have covered using about 7 minutes of segments from the Adaptations Videos. I will be using the Introduction, Temperate Broadleaf Forest, Temperate Grasslands, and Aquatic Biomes to reiterate concepts we have covered in new situations and to introduce some of the adaptations students might see in our area.
Lab:
I will follow the standard procedure we have in my classroom for science notebooks by projecting the following information for the students to record in their science noteooks:
Date, Time, Temperature (inside)
Focus Question: How are organisms in our courtyard adapted for this ecosystem?
Prediction:
Procedure: In groups of two, study organisms in the courtyard and identify adaptations you think they have. Record your observations in your notebook in a way that will help you to remember and explain your findings.
Observations: (Include temperature and description of current conditions)
Students will then be given time to spread out and work in the courtyard. During this time, I will be circulating to help students remain focused, and to provide questions to help guide student groups as needed.
Students will record observations and should be prepared to discuss findings the following class period.
Day 2:
Students will meet with their full group of 4 students to share and discuss findings from the following day, recording questions and thoughts in the Making Meaning section below observations. Then the whole class will discuss observations and questions, recording this in the Making Meaning section of the class science notebook.
To conclude the lesson, a Line of Learning will be drawn under all previous parts of the lab, and we will record individually and in the class notebook, the observations that we have established are accurate and that answer our focus question.
FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Teacher Manual
Elements of Biology: Biomes: The Adaptations of Organisms, Discovery Education Streaming
- "Elements of Biology: Biomes: The Adaptations of Organisms" sections of which I will be accessing through Discover Education
Introduction:
As this is the culmination of a FOSS lesson, I will be reviewing the concepts we have covered using about 7 minutes of segments from the Adaptations Videos. I will be using the Introduction, Temperate Broadleaf Forest, Temperate Grasslands, and Aquatic Biomes to reiterate concepts we have covered in new situations and to introduce some of the adaptations students might see in our area.
Lab:
I will follow the standard procedure we have in my classroom for science notebooks by projecting the following information for the students to record in their science noteooks:
Date, Time, Temperature (inside)
Focus Question: How are organisms in our courtyard adapted for this ecosystem?
Prediction:
Procedure: In groups of two, study organisms in the courtyard and identify adaptations you think they have. Record your observations in your notebook in a way that will help you to remember and explain your findings.
Observations: (Include temperature and description of current conditions)
Students will then be given time to spread out and work in the courtyard. During this time, I will be circulating to help students remain focused, and to provide questions to help guide student groups as needed.
Students will record observations and should be prepared to discuss findings the following class period.
Day 2:
Students will meet with their full group of 4 students to share and discuss findings from the following day, recording questions and thoughts in the Making Meaning section below observations. Then the whole class will discuss observations and questions, recording this in the Making Meaning section of the class science notebook.
To conclude the lesson, a Line of Learning will be drawn under all previous parts of the lab, and we will record individually and in the class notebook, the observations that we have established are accurate and that answer our focus question.
FOSS Populations and Ecosystems Teacher Manual
Elements of Biology: Biomes: The Adaptations of Organisms, Discovery Education Streaming
Teaching Notes and Tips
In the past, I have stuck pretty close to the FOSS curriculum, however I am working to make it more relevant by bringing in more local information. Additionally, I am working on moving away from using the FOSS provided student sheets and working exclusively within a Science Notebook framework.
Assessment
This activity will be a review and opportunity to apply the concepts that have been covered in class. The following day will be the assessment on adaptations. The science notebook entries are also assessed formally and informally throughout the quarter for completeness.
Standards
7.IV.B.2. The student will recognize that an organism's body plan and its ability to regulate its internal environment enable it to make or find food, grow and reproduce in a constantly changing environment.
7.IV.B.3. The student will recognize that behavioral responses of organisms may be determined by heredity and past experience.
7.IV.E.3. The student will explain how biological adaptations in structure, function and behavior enhance the reproductive success and survival of a species in a particular environment.
7.IV.B.3. The student will recognize that behavioral responses of organisms may be determined by heredity and past experience.
7.IV.E.3. The student will explain how biological adaptations in structure, function and behavior enhance the reproductive success and survival of a species in a particular environment.