Transcript Adaptations to different habitats. - EAL Nexus
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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.
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