Download Adaptations dominoes Pregnant woman Bat

Adaptations dominoes
Pregnant
woman
I sleep hanging upside down. My wings
are not built for take-off from the
ground. By sleeping upside down, I can
take-off immediately if there is danger.
Bat
I have a long trunk to reach tree-tops. I
also have strong teeth made for grinding
difficult branches.
Elephant
I withdraw my head, legs and tail into
my shell to protect against predators. I
also dig shallow pits to catch water for
drinking.
Desert
tortoise
I huddle close with other members of
my species, to help me survive in very
cold conditions. The members at the
centre are the warmest.
Penguin
I am a plant. My leaves are small spikes,
so that not a lot of water is let out
through my leaves. This is important
because I live in the desert.
Cactus
I have long eyelashes. This protects my
eyes from the sand, which is important
because I live in the desert.
Camel
I ride waves, or wakes of boats, because
this helps me move very fast without
using up much energy.
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Adaptations dominoes
Dolphin
I have white fur which gives me
camouflage. I also have large feet which
spreads my weight, so I don’t sink into
the snow.
Polar bear
I continue to make ‘meow’ noises at
humans who look after me. This ensures
I am fed. Wild members of my species
do not do this.
Domestic cat
I am found in Australia where there are
often droughts. If I am pregnant when a
drought happens, I have the ability to
‘freeze’ the development of the embryo
until food becomes available.
Kangaroo
I am the only type of mammal that is
venomous. This means I produce a
poison to protect me from predators.
Solenodon
My lower jaw is not connected to my
skull. This allows me to easily dislocate
my jaw, so that I can eat things that are
much bigger than my head.
Snake
When I come towards the end of my
pregnancy, my brain releases a special
hormone called oxytocin. This hormone
makes my breasts produce milk for my
baby.
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Adaptations dominoes
Teaching notes
This activity is designed as a starter activity to be used as a recap of adaptations and
classification of organisms as an introduction to evolution. Use follow up discussion
about how adaptations arise to ascertain students’ prior knowledge and understanding of
the process of evolution by natural selection.
Print out and cut up the dominoes before the lesson (the names of the animals could be
left attached to the pictures or separated). Give a set of cards to small groups of 2-3
students and ask them to match up the descriptions with the pictures to form a loop of
cards.
Going further
Ask students to underline the adaptation(s) on each card. Can they think of any more
adaptations for any of the organisms?
As a class, discuss which adaptations are physical and which are behavioural. Are there
any adaptations that are shared with other organisms in the group? (e.g. producing milk
for young). Discuss with the class how they think these adaptations have arisen.
The activity can also be linked to classification. Can students put the organisms into
groups e.g. plants/animals – mammals, reptiles, birds?
Ask them which of the five kingdoms are not represented by the cards (fungi,
prokaryotes and protoctists, they may give examples of organism from the groups rather
than naming the group). Which phylum of animals is not represented? (invertebrates).
Which classes of vertebrates are not shown on the cards? (fish and amphibians). As an
extension or a homework activity students could research an organism and their
adaptations from each of the missing groups to add to the dominoes activity or use as a
display.
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