Adaptations of living things
Adaptations of living things
Science and Technology
About this program
Student learning focuses on the growth and survival of living things and how the structural and behavioural adaptations of living things help them survive in their environment. This program includes study living things found in or around the river. Students conduct an experiment to determine whether yabbies prefer being in the open or in a sheltered environment. Students also observe the features of some of Thalgarrah's resident animals.
Activities
Categorising adaptations: Students learn about the whats and whys of adaptations by looking at the many adaptations of a koala.
Studying freshwater yabbies: In groups, students look at the behavioural adaptations of yabbies when there are different stimuli in their environment. Students draw a yabby after careful inspection of its structural features.
Waterbug Survey: A visit to the local Gara River yields a variety of waterbugs and other creatures that live in the river. Students will look at the structural features and behaviour to consider how the different adaptations help them survive in the river environment.
Food web of a river: Students build a food web including the plants and animals that they saw at the river to show the flow of matter and energy between plants and animals in an ecosystem.
Categorising the adaptations of reptiles: Looking closely at live reptiles, students infer what behaviours and features could be considered adaptations and how they help the reptile survive in its environment.
Assessment of understanding: Using a variety of toy animals, students try to identify adaptations and how they help the animal.
Important information
Outcomes:
* Poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data ST3-PQU-01
* Interprets data to support explanations and arguments ST3-DAT-01
Content:
Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions
Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments
- Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments
- Interpret a food web that describes the flow of matter and energy between plants and animals in an ecosystem
- Identify and describe how the loss or introduction of plants or animals affects an Australian ecosystem
- Examine evidence that environments have changed over time and continue to change
| 10.00am | Activity 1: Categorising adaptations by studying those of a koala. |
| 10.20am | Activity 2: Studying behavioural adaptations of a yabby. |
| 11.00am | Morning Tea |
| 11.20am | Activity 3: Looking at waterbugs at the river. |
| 12.15 pm | Activity 5: Building river food webs. |
| 1.00pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm | Activity 5: Looking at the adaptations of reptiles. |
| 2.10 pm | Assessment of understanding using models of animals. |
| 2.20 pm | Program ends |
| What to bring |
Students
Teachers
|
| Extreme or wet weather |
Program may be modified, postponed or cancelled due to predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms. Check the weather forecast for the Armidale area. |
| Medical notifications | Notify us by completing and returning the student welfare form at least one week before the excursion. This form will be sent out upon confirmation of booking. |
Contact us
Get in touch to ask a question, plan a visit or find out more about what we offer.
About our centre
Learn how our centre helps students explore, learn and connect with nature.