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EAL Nexus resource Adaptations to different habitats

Subject(s):

Age group(s): Topic:

Science, geography

12-14, 15-16

Adaptations to different habitats

Licence information |

This resource is free to use for educational purposes. © British Council 2014

Source |

This resource was originally developed by Alison Fisher and has been adapted by EAL Nexus.

Adaptations to different habitats

Write down as many words as you can to describe each habitat. Then try to find some similarities between the two habitats.

Arctic Desert

Differences between the Arctic and the desert

Put the words into the correct box.

Arctic

Temperature Other

Desert

cold hot sunny sandy dry arid snowy freezing parched bitterly cold scorching dusty searing heat icy frosty

Temperature Other

Similarities between the 2 habitats

Put the words in the correct boxes

Arctic

Climate

Desert

glaring sunlight monotonous severe climatic conditions sparse vegetation no trees extreme temperatures bleak desolate harsh weather

Landscape

Match the adaptation to the correct animal Polar bear

long eyelashes nostrils can close long legs brown fur

Camel

hair lined nostrils stores fat in hump does not sweat fur covered soles of feet black skin transparent fur thick fur covered in blubber (fat) small ears and tail large feet

What are the reasons for the adaptations?

Discuss with a partner the reasons for the polar bear’s adaptations Think about what it needs to do:

• protect itself from the cold • stay hidden (when there are no trees or rocks) • walk on soft snow • swim in cold water.

Phrases to help you:

• It needs … so that it can … • Its … help it … • It can … so that …

Polar bear

Match the adaptation to the reason.

1. black skin 2. large feet 3. transparent fur 4. thick fur 5. small ears and tail 6. nostrils can close 7. fur covered soles of feet 8. covered in blubber a. to reflect the snow so the bear appears white b. have a small surface area so less heat escapes c. to provide insulation from the cold d. to stop the bear sinking into the snow e. to stop cold water going into the bear’s nose f. to absorb heat to keep the bear warm g. to give a good grip on ice

Match the adaptation to the reason answers .

1. black skin – to absorb heat to keep the bear warm 2. large feet to stop the bear sinking into the snow 3. transparent fur – to reflect the snow so the bear appears white 4. thick fur – to provide insulation from the cold 5. small ears and tail have a small surface area so less heat escapes 6. nostrils can close – to stop cold water going into the bear’s nose 7. fur covered soles of feet – to provide insulation from the cold and to give a good grip on ice 8. covered in blubber – to provide insulation from the cold

What are the reasons for the adaptations?

Discuss with a partner the reasons for the camel’s adaptations.

Think about what it needs to do:

• • protect itself from the heat stay hidden (when there are no trees or rocks) • • walk on soft sand survive without water.

Phrases to help you:

• it needs … so that it can … • • its … help it … it can … so that …

Camel

Match the adaptation to the reason.

1. long eyelashes 2. long legs 3. brown fur 4. thick fur on its hump 5. nostrils that can close 6. stores fat in hump 7. does not sweat 8. large feet a. to keep its body away from the hot sand.

b. to provide energy if it has had no food or water for a while.

c. to stop sand irritating it.

d. to prevent water loss.

e. to protect its back from the sun.

f. to stop it sinking into the soft sand.

g. so it cannot be seen easily.

Match the adaptation to the reason – answers.

1. long eyelashes to stop sand irritating it.

2. long legs to keep its body away from the hot sand .

3. brown fur so it cannot be seen easily.

4. thick fur on its hump to protect its back from the sun.

5. nostrils that can close to stop sand irritating it.

6. stores fat in hump to provide energy if it has had no food or water for a while.

7. does not sweat to prevent water loss.

8. large feet to stop it sinking into the soft sand.

Writing task

Write a paragraph about what you have learnt. You will need to: • describe the Arctic and desert environments • explain how the polar bear and camel have adapted to their environment • compare and contrast the two animals.

You could start like this:

Both

the camel and the polar bear are well suited to their environment. A polar bear has white fur

which

camel has.....................

......................................

On the other hand

, a Try to use all the words in the table below.

Words to show similarity

as well as similarly this is the same as also

Words to show

unlike

difference

this is different from however although

Words to explain

this is because so that which because it needs to

Check your work.

• • • • • Polar bear and camel adaptations - Checklist.

I have:

described the desert and the Arctic using at least four of the words from my list written about at least three adaptations for the polar bear and the camel explained the reasons for the adaptations used at least six different words to compare, contrast and explain.

described at least one similarity and two differences between the camel and the polar bear.

 or 