Review while you wait Answer: H (3 min) While we wait…

THIS WEEK: I can:  SPI 0407.2.1 Recognize the impact of predation and competition on an ecosystem.  SPI 0407.5.1 Determine how a physical or behavioral adaptation can enhance the chances of survival.  SPI 0407.5.2 Infer the possible reasons why a species became endangered or extinct. 20 sec

Learning Mission Rules In our virtual classroom… SHOW RESPECT SHOW RESPONSIBILITY SHOW SELF-CONTROL Go over the rules together & explain what they mean 10sec OUR MISSION: The mission of the Georgia Cyber Academy is to provide an exemplary educational experience to students in a unique and individualized setting.

Essential Question: What does it mean to ‘adapt’? Type your thoughts on the screen. Here’s a hint? Spend about 1 minute letting them type & discuss 2 min

I would read this TO them, since the print is small, and there isn’t much white space. Ask why they think giraffes have long necks and why hawks have curved beaks. 3 min

Without food, animals cannot survive, so animals have adapted certain features that allow them to more easily get food. For example, the great white shark has a strong sense of smell that allows it to locate food, and it has sharp teeth that allow it to attack its prey. Lizards have long, fast-moving tongues that allow them to catch insects. Giraffes have long necks that allow them to reach high into trees to get leaves for food. Pelicans have enormous, pouched bills that they can expand to eat fish. Hawks have curved beaks that allow them to catch prey more easily. Ask them what “prey” means. 5 min

Animals also adapt to changes in the availability of food Animals also adapt to changes in the availability of food. For example, some types of squirrels store nuts for winter, while bats, hedgehogs, and some other animals hibernate in winter to survive the long period where there is little food available. Plants make their own food using energy from the Sun, so they need sunlight to survive. Many plants will grow in the direction of the Sun to increase the amount of sunlight they receive. Talk about what it means to hibernate. 5 min

Adaptations also help plants and animals survive certain weather conditions. Animals adapt to the weather conditions in their environments, too. For example, emperor penguins have a thick layer of blubber that helps keep them warm in cold areas. Polar bears have thick fur and padded paws to help them survive the extreme weather of the Arctic. Flying birds, such as the tundra swan, migrate to survive cold winters and find food more easily during stressful environmental conditions. Mention migrate 4 min

Adaptations also help plants and animals protect themselves Adaptations also help plants and animals protect themselves. One method of protection is camouflage, which is where the animal’s appearance helps it blend into its environment. Many stick insects, lizards, and frogs have camouflage that makes it hard for predators to see them. Mention predators 3 min

A predator is an organism that eats another organism A predator is an organism that eats another organism. The prey is the organism which the predator eats. Some examples of predator and prey are lion and zebra, bear and fish, and fox and rabbit. The words "predator" and "prey" are almost always used to mean only animals that eat animals. Berries, vegetables, fruit and plants are not prey. 2 min

Have kids hop on the mic and tell what’s happening here 1 min

Prey Predator List a predator on one side, and its prey on the other. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Depending on how many students you have, you could take volunteers or ask everyone to participate 4 min

Green plants cannot survive for very long without sunlight and they become unhealthy if they do not obtain minerals and water. When plants are growing close together, in a forest for example, the tallest plants will receive most sunlight. The smaller plants will receive less sunlight because the taller plants shade them from the sun's rays. Ecologists say that all of the plants in the forest are in competition with each other; they are competing for the sunlight. In a dense forest, many seedlings which germinated in the spring may not survive the winter because they did not receive enough sunlight to make and store food. 2 min

Plants do not only compete for sunlight Plants do not only compete for sunlight. In desert ecosystems, where water is scarce, the cactus plants do not grow very close together. Their roots, however, radiate out from the cactus plant, just under the surface of the soil. The roots of a cactus need to absorb as much water as possible when it rains. In this ecosystem it is the roots of the cactus plants which compete for space below the ground. Herbivores which eat the same part of a plant, seed-eating birds for example, are in competition with each other. If there are too many primary consumers they will eat too many plants. If the number of plants is reduced this will eventually mean that some animals will starve. To avoid competing with each other, herbivores specialize by eating different plants or different parts of the same plants. An ecosystem depends on a balance, sometimes called the balance of nature, which only provides for a certain number of organisms to survive within it. 4 min

Although the number of animals decreases along the food chain, the size of the carnivores usually increases. Carnivores generally need to be larger and stronger than their prey if they are to catch and kill it. The alternative to increased size is co-operation with others. A pack of hyenas can attack and kill a large herbivore. A single hyena could not tackle such a large prey on its own. FOOD CHAIN 2 min

Put on your THINKING CAPS, because I’ve got some questions for you! Group 1: Bees make honey. Bears love honey and so do humans. What would happen if a bigger animal starting hunting and killing bears? Group 2: Let’s say your backyard has only 3 animals in it: Flies, frogs, and snakes. Frogs eat flies, and snakes eat frogs. It is a happy ecosystem. Everyone gets what they need. What happens if you release hundreds of spiders into your backyard? They loves to eat flies too! Group 3: What happens in an ocean if humans kill all of the sharks? Your teacher will put you in breakout groups. You will have 3 minutes to discuss (on the mic) what you think will happen. 5 min

Writing Prompt: Science Journals Write a paragraph about how animals adapt to the environment in order to survive. Include the name of the animal(s), explain the animal’s adaptation, and how the adaptation helps the animal survive in its environment. You will have 7 minutes to write. Share what you have written.