This is a lesson in adaptations

The story:

A time machine has recently been invented. The MatterMasters Organism Research Institution has decided that it will use the time machine to send a group of animal research scientists millions of years in the future to observe the animal and plant life on Earth at this time.

When you arrive, you find that most of the animals and plants that you know from the present have all disappeared! BUT there are all sorts of new species living in place of the ones you know.

Your assignment is to observe, draw, and analyze one of the animals.

Your job is to report back to MMORI. Your report must include:

• An image (drawn or created)
• A description of what the animal looks like and what animal group it belongs to.
• What animal it is most closely related to.
• A scientific and common name for the animal.
• Describe 4+ different adaptations the animal has (structure or behavior)
• Describe the environment it lives in.
• What does the animal eat?

To help with the creation of the animal, here is a website to try out:

Switcheroo Zoo

To create your project, we will be using Weebly.com. Weebly is a webpage making online site. Before going to Weebly, you need to have your animal name ready because you are going to use it to name the website.

I will give you your username and password, AFTER you have filled out your graphic organizer.

Some notes to help you:

Adaptations

An adaptation is a part on the body of the animal OR it is a behavior (something it does) that helps it survive. Some examples would be:

• webbed feet on a duck help it swim
• pincers on a crayfish help it defend itself
• shells on a snail help them to protect their body
• prehensile tail helps a monkey to grap a hold of branches in trees
• an opposible thumb on a person or primate helps them to pick up things with their hands

Scientific Names

Scientific Names are names that scientists use to categorize and name animals. Go to the San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes page to see examples.

Possible vs. Improbable

Make your animal as POSSIBLE as you can. This means that the animal should NOT be a combination of different types of animals. For example it is IMPROBABLY (not likely) that an animal would evolve from a combination of reptile and mammal and insect. They are TOO different from each other and are not in the same animal groups. STAY WITHIN THE SAME ANIMAL GROUP!! So, mammals, reptiles & birds, fish, amphibians, insects, arachnids, crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, crayfish), mollusks (octopus, squid, clams, oysters), echinoderm (sea star, sea urchin), etc.....

Here is the playlist for 5th Grade. Click here.

This is about Chemical Reactions. Answer the video questionnaire as you watch the video.

Go to All Links, scroll down to the Chemistry or Matter and Energy sites.

Look for answers to the following questions. Type your answers into Word, print and turn in to Mrs. Allard. Make sure they are in full sentences before turning them in!!

Questions:

1. How does Chemistry and Matter have a role in our everyday lives? We are not all scientists working in a lab. Where do we use Chemistry?
2. In what way does understanding chemical reactions help us?
3. What great things exist on Earth because of new discoveries in Chemistry or Physics? Tell what the discovery/ies are and evaluate them for how they are important? How did the discoveries change our lives?

Bonus Questions:

Why do we have "leap year"?

Stay tuned for Mrs. Allard to ask you to do something else...or check something out.

Today, while in the computer lab, you have a mission. We are going to investigate the periodic table and elements online. Below is a list of sites that will help you on the journey. There are also Chemistry links on the links page...some might be the same as below. I will be updating these as you explore, so you might want to refresh. Be able to tell me 3 things that you learned about Chemistry, the Periodic Table, or Elements at the end of your exploration. Next week, we will be back in the science lab.

Explore These First:

• Changing States of Water
• Properties of Materials
• Reversible and Irreversible Changes
• Melting Points
• Solids, Liquids, and Gases
• Keeping Warm
• Rocks, Minerals, and Soil
• States of Matter

Explore These Second:

• Funbrain Periodic Table Game - ONLY the game given, NOT the other links
• Chemical Element Game
• Element Lab
• Jefferson Lab Element Hangman
• Fossweb Junkyard Analysis and Periodic Table
• The Atom's Family
• Chemistry for Life Kid's Site
• Chem4Kids
• Chemistry for Kids
• Zoom Kitchen Chemistry
• Wart Games - Chemistry