1. Introduce or review the concept of adaptations.
Write the word adaptation on the board. Ask students to define this word as it relates to animals. Ask:
- Why do animals have special adaptations to their habitats?
- What examples of animal adaptation can you think of near where you live?
- What types of adaptations in marine animals have you previously learned about?
Encourage students to think about adaptations in marine animals related to obtaining food, providing camouflage or safety from predators, or dealing with changes in temperature, salinity, pressure, lack of sunlight, and need for oxygen.
2. Have students identify animal adaptations in a National Geographic photo gallery.
Show students the photo gallery and have them take turns reading aloud the captions as the class looks at each photo. Ask students to identify information about adaptations in each caption. For those captions that do not include adaptation information, challenge students to find visual evidence of adaptation. For example, needlefish travel in schools to protect themselves from predators; their color and size help them blend into their surroundings. Portuguese man-of-wars have air bladders that allow them to float on or near the surface of the ocean. These communal organisms use their air bladders like sails, allowing wind to move them through the water. The green sea turtle’s shell protects it from predators.
3. Have students make predictions about ocean habitats.
Ask students to predict how different ocean habitats might affect the animal adaptations seen there. Ask:
- How different is life at the surface of the ocean from life at the bottom?
- What types of adaptations might marine animals need to have near the surface versus near the bottom?
Subjects & Disciplines
- Biology
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- identify visual evidence of adaptations
- make predictions about how marine animal adaptations vary by habitat
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Discussions
- Visual instruction
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
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Critical Thinking Skills
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Science Education Standards
- (5-8) Standard C-5: Diversity and adaptations of organisms
What You’ll Need
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
Background Information
Animals adapt to their environments to help them survive. Ocean animals have unique adaptations depending on what ocean habitat they live in.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
a modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence. An adaptation is passed from generation to generation.
environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time.
having to do with the ocean.
animal that hunts other animals for food.
saltiness.
Websites
Funder
This activity is made possible by a generous grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program.
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Habitats and Microhabitats
A habitat is an environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time to find a mate. The habitat contains all an animal needs to survive such as food and shelter. A microhabitat is a small area which differs somehow from the surrounding habitat. Its unique conditions may be home to unique species that may not be found in the larger region. Unfortunately, some habitats are threatened by pollution, extreme weather, or deforestation. This puts many of the species that live there in danger and is causing many populations to decline. Explore different types of habitats and microhabitats with this curated collection of classroom resources.
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Natural Selection
The theory of natural selection was explored by 19th-century naturalist Charles Darwin. Natural selection explains how genetic traits of a species may change over time. This may lead to speciation, the formation of a distinct new species. Select from these resources to teach your classroom about this subfield of evolutionary biology.
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Ocean Habitats and Animal Adaptations
Students analyze three broad ocean habitats, the characteristics and conditions of each, and research the animals of each zone and their adaptations.
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Adaptation and Survival
An adaptation is any heritable trait that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive and reproduce in its environment.
-
-
Habitats and Microhabitats
A habitat is an environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time to find a mate. The habitat contains all an animal needs to survive such as food and shelter. A microhabitat is a small area which differs somehow from the surrounding habitat. Its unique conditions may be home to unique species that may not be found in the larger region. Unfortunately, some habitats are threatened by pollution, extreme weather, or deforestation. This puts many of the species that live there in danger and is causing many populations to decline. Explore different types of habitats and microhabitats with this curated collection of classroom resources.
-
Natural Selection
The theory of natural selection was explored by 19th-century naturalist Charles Darwin. Natural selection explains how genetic traits of a species may change over time. This may lead to speciation, the formation of a distinct new species. Select from these resources to teach your classroom about this subfield of evolutionary biology.
-
Ocean Habitats and Animal Adaptations
Students analyze three broad ocean habitats, the characteristics and conditions of each, and research the animals of each zone and their adaptations.
-
Adaptation and Survival
An adaptation is any heritable trait that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive and reproduce in its environment.
-