Animal adaptations
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe some adaptations in a range of animals.
Key learning points
- Animals have special features, or adaptations, that help them to survive in their habitats.
- Adaptations are passed from one generation of a species to another.
- Many different animals have adaptations that protect them from predators.
- An environment can change dramatically due to a natural disaster, or slowly over hundreds of years.
Keywords
Habitat - The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.
Adaptation - An adaptation is a feature of a plant or animal that helps them to survive in their habitat.
Survive - To survive means to continue to stay alive.
Environment - An environment is the surroundings or conditions that an animal or plant lives in.
Predator - An animal that catches and eats other animals is a predator.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that animals are able to adapt during their lifetime, for example that they can change the colour of their fur to better blend in with new surroundings.
Explain that animals adapt slowly, over many years and generations.
Teacher tip
This lesson looks at adaptations of chameleons. There are many amazing free online videos showing chameleons demonstrating these adaptations; share some with pupils to really bring this lesson to life and help them understand how these adaptations are really beneficial.
Equipment
None required.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.There are many things animals must do to survive, such as finding food and shelter. What does ‘survive’ mean?
Q2.Match the animal to the food it eats.
Q3.What is a habitat?
Q4.Match the animal to its habitat.
Q5.Which of these animals are predators?
Q6.An animal that eats only plants is called a .
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The special features that animals have that help them to survive in their habitats are called .
Q2.Which of these adaptations would help an animal to survive in a very cold environment?
Q3.Which of these adaptations help animals to stay safe from predators?
Q4.Match the animal to the adaptation that helps to protect it from predators.
Q5.Adaptations are physical changes that …
Q6.Which of these statements about environments is correct?
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Animal adaptations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Animal adaptations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Evolution and inheritance unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.