Adaptations
KS 2, 3,4; Second, Third, Fourth Stage.
Ages 9 - 16
DURATION: 45 mins - 55 mins
OVERVIEW: Our Ranger relates physical and behavioural characteristics to survival or extinction by looking at interdependence, camouflage and vestigial traits.
Species have features that make them well-suited to survive in their environment. We use ZooLab animals to investigate how and why some species adapt, evolve and adjust to a changing environment.
We look at the human factor in evolution, meet specialist creatures who are affected by their environment and discover the ability of some generalist species to live almost anywhere.
Learning Outcomes
All children will be able to define ‘adaptation’.
All children will be able describe some adaptations in a range of animals.
Most children will be able to explain the link between adaptations and habitat.
Some children will be able to explain why animals need to adapt.
You'll get to meet some of these animals:
All workshops include:
Free pre-lesson resources and teaching packs!
“The ranger was absolutely amazing. The children were incredibly excited throughout the experience, and she had a wonderfully calm yet enthusiastic nature. The length of the workshop was perfect, and the children were fully engaged from start to finish. They especially appreciated the wide range of facts the ranger shared about each animal, and every question they asked was answered brilliantly. Thank you!"
Newton-on-Trent CofE Primary School
What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is defined as an adjustment to an organism to make them better suited to an environment.
Animals and plants have developed special characteristics to survive in their particular habitat. Adaptations include biological changes to body functions or structure, behavioural and physiological to change to meet the environment.
There are two different types of species - generalist and specialist: generalists are able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and the specialists can only thrive in a small variety.
Adaptations became widely discussed after Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace developed the theory of natural selection - i.e survival of the fittest, where the best adapted life forms survive and pass the most desirable characteristics to offspring.
Curriculum Outcomes England & Wales
Curriculum Outcomes Scotland
