1. Chapter 4 Animal and Plant Adaptations
O’Neal 4th Grade Team

2. Chapter 4 Vocabulary
adaptation: a structure or behavior that helps a living thing live in its surroundings.
adapted: made fit to live under certain conditions.
protective colorations: colors or patterns on an animal that help keep the animal from being seen by predators.
migration: movement from one place to another when the seasons change.
hibernate: to spend the winter in a state in which the body greatly slows down.
nitrogen: a material that plants need to grow.
annual: a plant that lives only one year.
evergreen: a plant that stays green all year, including firs, spruces, and pines.
perennial: a plant that can live two years or more.

3. What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a change in an animal’s physical structure or behavior that helps an animal to survive in their habitat.
Examples: The shape of a bird’s beak, number of fingers and toes, or the color of an animal’s fur.
Physical adaptations do not develop during one lifetime, but over many generations.
Chapter 4 Lesson 1 How do Adaptations help Animals and Plants Survive p.88-91

4. Example of Adaptation
The shape of an animal’s teeth is related to its diet.
Herbivores, such as deer, have many molars for chewing tough grass and plants.
Carnivores, such as lions, have sharp canines to kill and tear meat.

5. Who experiences adaptations?
All species have experienced adaptation and will continue to slowly adapt as the next generations are born.
We will identify certain species from each of these groups and the reasons for their success:
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians

6. Mammals Endothermic or warm-blooded All have some type of “hair”
Some are very specialized, such as white polar bear fur
Method of locomotion
Care for young

7. Birds Leg Length Foot Webbing Beak Shape Roseate Spoonbill (top right)
Laughing Gull (top left)
Beak Shape
Long Billed Curlew (bottom)

8. Reptiles Exothermic or cold- blooded Scales Some undergo hibernation
Lay eggs on land
Leg structure and position

9. Amphibians Exothermic Lay eggs in water Partially of fully webbed feet
Have lungs or can absorb oxygen through their skin

10. Animal Defense
Some animals use these methods of defense to protect themselves:
Camouflage
Snake
Mimicry
Mexican Milk Snake
Bright colors
Skunk and Poison Arrow Frog
“Hair” projections
Hedgehog quills
Deer Antlers

11. Adaptation Applications: Lions
Why are the eyes of a lion set in front of the head rather than on the sides?
Answer: Eyes in front of the head allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when hunting.

12. Adaptation Applications: Lions
What is the purpose of the mane on a male lion? What is the reason for the lion’s color?
A thick mane helps the male to appear larger and serves as protection for the throat. The tawny brown coat color camouflages the animal and young among vegetation.

13. Adaptation Applications: Giraffe
Why are giraffes able to go for long periods of time without water?
Answer: Giraffes drink water when available, but can go weeks without it. They rely on morning dew and the water content of their food.

14. Adaptation Applications: Giraffe
How are their long necks adapted to their lifestyle?
Answer: This extra length is thought to have evolved to help the giraffe spot predators and other giraffes in the distance. Interestingly, giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrate in their necks.

15. Adaptation Applications: Zebras
How do zebras defend themselves?
Capable of running up to 40 mph. Zebras defend themselves by kicking and biting. Coloration also plays a role in evading predators, although theories have not reached an agreement.

16. Adaptation Games Animal Adaptations Game
Harcourt animal adaptation game

17. Why do animals hibernate?
What is hibernation?
Why do animals hibernate?
This is a very special kind of deep sleep
It is brought on by short day lengths, cold temperatures and food shortages
It is a survival strategy
Dropping into a deep hibernation means animals are using less energy
Food is scarce
Animals miss the cold seasons
Chapter 4 Lesson 2 How Are Animals Adapted to Their Environment? p.92-97

18. How do animals prepare for hibernation?
They try to put on as much fat as possible because they wont be eating much during the winter
This is called brown fat, which is found across the back and shoulders, close to an animal’s organs
Brown fat works hard to deliver quick energy to an animal coming out of hibernation

19. Can you think of any animals that hibernate?
Bear
hedgehog
Ladybird
Snake
Squirrels
Bats

20. Recap How do animals prepare for winter?
What is hibernation and why do animals hibernate?
Identify some animals that hibernate
What are some dangers of hibernation?

21. How are plants adapted to their environment?
Each biomes plant adaptations
Chapter4 Lesson 3 How are plants adapted to Their Environments

22. Quia Review Links
Rags to Riches