Grade 3 Topic - Xiaofeng (Miranda) Wang

Grade 3 Topic - Xiaofeng (Miranda) Wang

Science Mini-Lesson
Grade 3
Topic: Animal adaptations - Camouflage, protective coloration, warning coloration,
mimicry/disguise coloration, disruptive coloration
Standards:
Elementary Science Core Curriculum Grades K-4
3.1c In order to survive in their environment, plants and animals must be adapted to that
environment.
K-8 Science Scope and Sequence
Describe how animals must be adapted to their environment in order to survive
LE 3.1a,c LE 5.2e, LE 6.1f
Content Objectives:
SWBAT to identify the reasons for animal adaptations
SWBAT analyze the different characteristics and functions of these adaptations
Language Objectives:
SWBAT speak about why and how animals must adapt to their environments
SWBAT write sentences using key vocabulary words related to animal adaptation
SWBAT write about one kind of animal adaptation known to them
SWBAT listen to videos related to animals
Cultural Objectives:
SWBAT recognize animals from their culture
SWBAT analyze the functions and characteristics of the adaptations of one animal from their
culture.
SWBAT sympathize with other students’ funds of knowledge
Vocabulary:
Coloration - natural color or varied markings of animals or plants
coloración - el color natural or las marcas variadas de animales y plantas
变色 - 动物或植物的自然保护色或不同的斑纹
Protect - to defend or guard from attack, to cover or shield from injury or danger proteger defenderse de ataques, cubrirse de daño o peligro
保护 - 防范攻击,以防伤害或避免危险
Warning - the act of showing signs of existence, appearance or sound:
advertencia, aviso - el uso de señas de existencia, apariencia o sonido
警告 - 显示自己存在，突显外观或声音的行为
Disguise - to change the appearance to hide an identity
disfraz, disfrazar - cambiar de apariencia para esconder la identidad real
伪装 - 改变外观，隐藏身份
Mimicry - modeling the external resemblance of a similar organism
mimica - copia de la apariencia exterior de un organismo parecido
模仿 - 仿造一个相似的生物体的外部形像
Predator - an organism that lives by eating other organisms
Depredador - organismo que sobrevive al comer a otros organismos
捕食者 -靠吃其他生物存活的生物
Prey - an organism that is eaten, or preyed upon
Presa - un organismo que es comido por el depredador
猎物 - 一个被其它生物吃掉的生物
Vocabulary from prior lessons:
Camouflage - the act of obscuring things to deceive an enemy
Continent - a large landmass on Earth
Climate - the normal weather conditions in a particular area
Structures - anything composed of parts arranged together in some way
Functions - the purpose for which something is designed or exists
Adaptation - the act of adjusting to the environment
Environment - aggregate of surrounding things, conditions and influences
Survive - to remain alive, in existence
Survival - the act or fact of surviving, especially under adverse or unusual circumstances
Habitat - the natural environment of an organism
Materials:
Vocabulary Flashcards (in English and Mandarin), sentence starters and samples, Smartboard,
Internet, Sample Organizer, Vocabulary WordSplash
Pre-lesson:
Show students picture examples of animal colorations and camouflage with vocabulary
Do Now:
Pre questions, pair share and group share:
1. What does camouflage look like?
2. How can animals camouflage?
3. How can animals adapt to the environment?
4. Why would an animal need to change color?
5. Why would animals need to blend to their environments?
6. How are animals well suited to live in their environments?
Introduce Vocabulary (Word Splash):
Description: Preload vocabularies students are about to encounter in the video. Students will
predict how words are related to each other by writing down sentences on the worksheets. They
will check their predictions by watching the video later.
Vocabularies: camouflage, predator, prey, continent, climate, habitat, coloration, protect,
warning, disguise, mimicry, Structures, functions, adaptations, environment, survive, survival
Animal Adaptation video (4:16)
http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/animals/camouflage/
Fill out the organizer during the video:
Pick One Animal
That Camouflages
and One That
Changes Colors
Name Your Animal
How do animals
camouflage?
Why do animals
camouflage?
Why do some
animals change
color? (List some
examples)
Why do animals
change color with
the seasons?
Animal #1
Animal #2
Animal #3
Animal #4
How do animals
confuse other
animals?
Demonstration: The 4 Types of Camouflage:
Show students examples of each animal’s coloration type, and explain the characteristics and
functions of animal adaptations.
1. Protective coloration
2. Warning coloration
3. Mimicry/Disguise
4. Disruptive coloration
Group Activity/Conclusion: Camouflage Challenge!
You have 1 minute to list as many ways to camouflage to your environment as you can!
Group 1: Flamingo in the desert
Group 2: Penguin in the jungle
Group 3: Elephant in the mountains
Group 4: Giraffe in the forest
Then, share with the class
Homework (extension activity/evaluation):
Pick One Animal
Animal #1
Animal #2
Animal #3
Animal #4
Pick An
That Camouflages
and One That
Changes Colors
Animal For
Research
Different to
Those in the
Video
Name Your Animal
What is the
weather like in
this animal’s
habitat? (Explore
with your
partners)
What habitat
(environment)
does this animal
live in? (Explore
with your partner)
What continent
does this animal
live in?
(Explore with your
partners)
Appendix A:
Word Splash
1. Look over the vocabulary words displayed below.
2. Choose as many vocabulary words as you can. Write three sentences that predict how each of
the words relates to one another.
3. Watch the video to check the accuracy of your predictions.
Note: An example sentence has been written for your reference.
Example: Animals protect themselves from predators by blending into the environment.
1. ______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Appendix B: Demonstration Pictures
Protective Camouflage
Warning Camouflage
Mimicry Camouflage
Disruptive Camouflage