Plant and Animal Adaptations

We did two investigations this week involving plant and animal adaptations. For plant adaptations, your kids were given different supplies (wax paper, plastic lid, balloon, sticky note, toothpick, crayon, cardboard piece). They were to try to determine which object was supposed to represent a plant adaptation shown on a sheet of plant pictures. This was really just an exploratory activity to help them evaluate why some materials might be more beneficial for plants than others.

Next we explored some bird beak adaptations by using tools to represent different bird beaks while trying to pick up various types of food. We used a clothespin to represent a finch beak, a toothpick to represent a woodpecker, a dropper to represent a hummingbird, and a spoon to represent a spoonbill. We then tried to pick up nectar (water), fish (plastic squares), seeds (sunflower seeds), and insects (raisins). This led to an interesting discussion regarding the fact bird beaks must fit the diet of the birds.

Camouflage

This week we researched different animals and how they camouflage themselves within their environment for protection. After our lesson, the students colored their own butterfly in a way that would allow it to blend in to our classroom. They came up with some pretty good ones! Can you spot the butterflies in the pictures?