Adaptations
KS 1, 2, 3; First, Second, Third, Fourth Stage.
Ages 5 - 14
DURATION: 45 mins - 55 mins
OVERVIEW: We use ZooLab animals to investigate how and why some species adapt, evolve and adjust to a changing environment over millions of years.
We look at the human factor in evolution, discover vestigial traits of some species and discover the ability of some species to live almost anywhere.
Animals used in this workshop
Key Workshop Objectives
Define adaptation
Explore how animals have adapted to their habitats
Compare the survival of 3 keys species
Consider why different animals are best suited to certain habitats
Identify different types of habitats
Curriculum Outcomes England & Wales
Curriculum Outcomes Scotland
This workshop includes FREE RESOURCES!
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.
