Amazing Adaptations Class
Plants and animals are amazing! Learn how cacti survive in the desert, how owls sneak up on their prey, and more! This class focuses mostly on the adaptations of plants, birds, and mammals. Participants will have opportunities to touch animal and plant specimens and will be encouraged to draw conclusions about the organisms' adaptations. In addition to the demonstration, participants will take a hike around the nature center, where they can observe plants and animals in their native habitats.
| Grades | 3rd - 6th |
| Time | 10:00am - 12:00 noon |
| Class Limit | Minimum 10, maximum 60 participants - Two consecutive classes may be scheduled in one day for larger groups. Smaller groups may be combined with an existing reservation. |
| Fee | $6.00/participant (children and adults, with the exception of teachers, who are free of charge). A 10-to-1 ratio of students to adults is required. |
Please see the field trip planner for more information about scheduling a field trip. (Call 281-474-2551 x 13 for class dates and to enroll.)
The following objectives, vocabulary, and TEKs may be addressed during this field trip.
Objectives
Students will:
- Define “adaptation” as a special trait, characteristic, or feature of an animal or plant that helps it survive or reproduce.
- Differentiate between learned and inherited adaptations.
- Identify some adaptations of plants and animals.
- Explore how certain adaptations help plants and animals survive in a particular environment.
Vocabulary
- Adaptation – a body part of behavior that helps an animal or plant survive or reproduce
- Inherited –passed down from parents; some examples of inherited adaptations are eye color, leaf shape, and number of legs
- Learned – comes from training or experience; some examples of learned adaptations are looking both ways before crossing the road and catching a ball
- Predator – an animal that hunts and eats other animals
- Prey – an animal that is hunted and eaten
- Habitat – the space where an organism lives and finds food, water, and shelter
- Camouflage – coloration or shape that helps an animal blend into its habitat
TEKS (2009-2010 Science)
3.10.A&B, 4.10.A&B, 5.10.A&B
Pre and Post Trip Materials (PDF Format)