Welcome to Science! Miss Fedeles February 13, 2012 Science Week 21 – Day 101 – Page 81 Where do plants and animals find food in their habitat?

Objectives Identify and categorize living and nonliving things Identify plants and animals with their habitat and food sources

Getting Ready An animal’s home is a place of protection and shelter. Animals live where they do because they are safe from predators, extreme weather, have a place to bear and raise their young, and find food. Your home is located where it is for the same reasons. An animal’s home is called it habitat. All living things organisms need the same things to survive: food, water, air, shelter, and space. Page 82

Adaptations Who remembers what it means to adapt? Over millions of years, animals and plants have adapted or changed to live successfully in their habitat. These adaptations can be physical or behavioral, but these changes have allowed the plant or animal to live easier in its habitat than any other place. That is why the animal calls it home. Within their habitat, most animals belong to more than one food chain that creates a food web as the chains interconnect. It is through food webs that animals find food and become food for other animals. Page 82

Food Web Within a food web or chain, all the plants and animals are dependent upon each other for survival. If one population changes, it will impact the other populations within the web. For example, if there is a dramatic increase in the deer population one year, they will soon eat all the available plants. Without enough to eat, some deer will die. Fewer deer will allow the plants to grow back, but wolves will have less to eat and some of them will die out. Fewer wolves will again allow the deer to increase. As you can see, the population of each species within the habitat affects the others. Page 82

Camouflage We have talked about camouflaging as a form of adaptation before. What happens when animals camouflage themselves? Page 82 Can you find me?

Colors and Patterns Colors and patterns on animals serve to disguise them. A great example of this are zebra strips and giraffe spots. Body design, like that of the walking stick, helps it find food and avoid being food. Page 83

The Need for Speed Another way that animals find their food is by being quick. Animals that have a streamlined body and are fast are able to find food and escape quickly, therefore ensuring survival. A cheetah is an excellent example of this type of animal. Page 83

Two are Better than One Often animals will hunt in packs or herds to help locate and attack food. Lookouts in the herd will watch for predators while the meal is eaten. Some animals use tools to find food. Primates and birds will pick up twigs and stones to help them get at food. Lions will work together to locate and attack animals for food. Page 83

Summing it up Animals are specially designed to survive in their habitat. They have developed adaptations to help them be successful. Camouflage, body design, patterns, use of tools, and group effort have all helped animals stay fed in their chosen habitat. Page 83

It’s Movie Time! We are going to watch a video that analyzes the adaptations of camels, giraffes, and penguins. Make sure that you are paying attention!

Are you ready for a web tour? I am now going to send you on a web tour to view some pictures of animals using camouflage as a means of adaptations. Make sure you read the captions that go along with the pictures. Put up a when you are done.

Directions: In the space below, draw a picture of an animal that we have not discussed today and write about the adaptations that animal uses.

Closure In a chat message, send 1 way an animal adapts to its habitat. Please put up a when you have sent your answer.

Dismissal Homework: None Have a great rest of your day!!!