Understanding the Animal Kingdom

Lesson 17
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ELA

Unit 4

3rd Grade

Lesson 17 of 23

Objective


Explain the connection between evolution and adaptation and give an example of how an animal has evolved in order to survive.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: How do Animals Adapt? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman and Niki Walker  pp. 4 – 9

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Target Task


Writing Prompt

What is the connection between evolution and adaptation? Give an example of an animal that has evolved in order to survive.

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • What is adaptation? Why do animals need to adapt? Do all adaptations happen at the same rate? Why or why not? 

  • What is evolution?

  • Why do some scientists believe that some early reptiles evolved into birds? 

  • How have bats evolved? Why? 

  • Why are climate adaptations crucial for survival? How are climate adaptations influenced by the environment? 

  • How does the author use text features to help a reader better understand animal adaptations? Why?

Vocabulary


adapt

v.

to change in order to make survival easier

adaptation

n.

a change to make survival easier

evolution

n.

a theory that animals and plants have naturally changed over time

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Common Core Standards


  • RI.3.3 — Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
  • RI.3.7 — Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).

Supporting Standards

L.3.4
L.3.4.b
L.3.6
RF.3.3
RF.3.4
RI.3.1
RI.3.4
RI.3.5
RI.3.10
SL.3.1
W.3.10

Next

Explain how the environment in which an animal lives impacts the way an animal adapts and why different adaptations are needed.

Lesson 18
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Lesson Map

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