Animals Adapt

Animals Adapt

Location: Hillside Outdoor Education School

Students will have the opportunity to discover many adaptations of animals through hands-on investigation and exploration in nature.  A variety of activities will bring students closer to nature and may include feeding chickadees, looking for animals, homes and tracks.  The interaction with wild animals or their natural habitats is a great chance to help foster concern and respect for living things.

Itinerary: In this program, studeents will investigate how different species of animals, birds, and plants adapt to the season and their environment.  This trip may include visits to offsite locations.


Mouse in Straw

Overall Expectations:

Science: 

  • 2 investigate similarities and differences in the characteristics of various animals;

Specific Expectations:

Science

  • 2.2 observe and compare the physical characteristics (e.g., fur or feathers; two legs or no legs) and the behavioural characteristics (e.g., predator or prey) of a variety of animals, includinginsects, using student-generated questions and a variety of methods and resources (e.g., observation of live animals in the schoolyard)
  • 2.5 investigate the ways in which a variety of animals adapt to their environment and/or to changes in their environment, using various methods (e.g., read simple non-fiction texts and Aboriginal stories; observe animal activity in the schoolyard and surrounding areas, and record findings)
  • 3.2 describe an adaptation as a characteristic body part, shape, or behaviour that helps a plant or animal survive in its environment (e.g., some birds migrate to a warmer climate for the winter; the design of a hawks feet and beak help them to catch and kill prey; the cecropia moth has the pattern of a snake’s head on its wings: the hypothesis is that this is to frighten its predators away)