Activities

1. What is an adaptation?
   
   
2. What is camouflage?
   
   
3. What is mimicry?

4. Predict how well a cactus would survive if you moved it from the desert to the wetlands.  Explain your thinking.
   
   
5. How are the adaptations of a plant in the tundra like the adaptations of a plant in the desert?

6. If a giraffe moved from the grasslands to the tundra, what adaptations would it need in order to survive in the tundra?  List and explain three examples.
   
   
7. If a duck moved from the wetlands to the rainforest, what adaptations would it need in order to survive in the rainforest?  List and explain three examples.
   
   
8. In what type of environment could a plant survive with a few small leaves?  In what type of environment would a plant need many large leaves in order to survive?  Explain your thinking.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. An adaptation is something that helps a plant or animal survive.
   
   
2. Camouflage is protective coloring that helps an animal blend in with its surroundings.
   
   
3. Mimicry is the ability to look like another animal that predators will avoid.

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

• A cactus might die if it were moved from a desert to the wetlands. 
• A cactus is designed to absorb and store water because water is scarce in the desert. 
• If water was plentiful, the cactus might absorb too much and die, much like a houseplant that has been watered too much.

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

• Water is scarce in both the desert and the tundra
• The desert plant’s roots are much like a tundra plant’s roots 
• Both root systems are shallow to absorb water.  They absorb as much water as possible to store it to support the life of the plant. 

6. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• White coloring for camouflage
• Fur to keep warm
• A thick layer of fat underneath skin to keep warm
• Paws and claws instead of hooves so it won’t slip on snow and ice
• Omnivorous diet because there are not enough plants to survive

7. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Thinner beak to crack nuts or gather insects
• Claws on feet to move faster on ground and in trees
• Ability to fly faster to avoid predators
• Darker coloring for camouflage

8. Acceptable responses might include, but are not limited to:

• If a plant has a few small leaves, then it could survive in a very sunny area.  There would be a lot of sunlight to use to produce food.  Therefore, few leaves are needed to produce an adequate amount of food for the plant.
• If a plant has many large leaves, then it could survive in an area with minimal sunlight.  There would be very little sunlight to use to produce food.  Therefore, more leaves are needed to produce enough food for the plant to survive.