Activities

1. Define adapt.

2. Why is it important for an animal to be able to adapt?

3. Identify and explain the adaptations animal’s teeth have undergone for survival based on their dietary needs.

4. Identify an adaptation a cactus has made to survive in the desert and predict how this adaptation will help the cactus.

5. An eagle is flying overhead hunting for food in a field with lots of grass on the ground. A green snake and a brown mouse are in the field. Predict which animal you think will be eaten and why.

6. A monarch butterfly does not taste good. A painted lady butterfly, which does taste good, looks just like the monarch. Develop a logical argument as to why a bird will not eat the painted lady butterfly.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. To adapt means to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation.

2. If animals are unable to adapt, they will eventually die.

3. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• Some animals have sharp teeth to eat meat.
• Some animals have flat teeth to grind plants.

4. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• A cactus has adapted to be able to store water for long periods of time.
• This adaptation will help the cactus survive.
• The cactus will be able to store water, so even if there is not any rain for long periods of time, they are able to drink.

5. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• The brown mice might be eaten because it does not blend in with the grass. The green snake does.
• The green snake might be eaten because the brown mouse can move faster than the green snake.
• The green snake might be eaten because the brown mouse can bury a hole.
• The brown mouse might be eaten because the snake can slither into its home.

6. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• The painted butterfly might not be eaten due to mimicry.
• The painted butterfly looks like the monarch butterfly, so the bird might get confused and think that it tastes bad too.