Download Lesson Plan - Cabrillo Education

US Department of Interior
National Park Service
Cabrillo National Monument
PLANT
ADAPTATIONS
K-12 CURRICULUM
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA ™
KEEP CALM & ADAPT ON
All living things on our planet have made adaptations to ensure their
survival under a given set of conditions. In order to survive, an organisms
must gather enough food or energy for growth, protect itself from harm,
and reproduce. To obtain or store enough water for growth, plants in
climates, such as ours, have developed various adaptations. Some plants
have long roots that can tap into the groundwater stored deep below.
Others have shallow roots that spread out wide and allow the plant to
absorb the water from short bursts of rainfall. Some plants have organs for
water storage. These organs allow the plant to hold water to be used at a
later time. Other plants have made various leaf adaptations. For example,
having light colored leaves help keep the plant cool or cupped-shaped
leaves help reduce water loss during transpiration. The native plant communities of the
Coastal Sage Scrub and the Southern
Maritime Chaparral have adapted to
live in our Mediterranean climate here in
San Diego. For this activity, students will
make observations about plant size, leaf
size, color, scent, and feel of these plants.
As these observations are occurring,
questions are posed and pondered on
why these adaptations have helped
these plants to survive in these areas and
how they play an important role in the
ecosystems within the park.
Cabrillo National Monument
Plant Adaptations 1
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How have native plants adapted to
survive in our Mediterranean Climate?
WHY IT MATTERS?
San Diego has a Mediterranean climate
which falls within the temperate climate
zone. There are only four other places in the
world (2% globally) that have this climate
including: the Mediterranean Ocean basin
in Europe, the southwestern coast of Chile,
the tip of South Africa, and the south and
southwest coasts of Australia. All of these
regions are located on the west coast of
their respective continents, next to an
ocean. They share similar ocean and wind
currents and the landforms are all at the
same relative elevation.
Within this climate there are distinct plant
communities. These plant communities
have made changes, adaptations, to
survive within this climate. With continued
development of our lands, these plant
communities are becoming rare due to loss
of habitat through urbanization. Cabrillo
National Monument is an oasis for these
plant communities and a great place to
observe and study them.
Cabrillo National Monument
Key Vocabulary
•  Adaptations: a change or the process of change
by which an organism or species becomes better
suited to its environment
•  Annual plant: a plant that begins from a seed,
and then grows, flowers, produces seed, and
dies in less than a year
•  Climate: The average weather of a given region
taken over a significant period of time
•  Deciduous: shedding or dropping leaves
•  Dormant: not growing but resting or waiting for
more suitable growing conditions
•  Evergreen: having leaves all year round
•  Perennial plant: a plant that lives for many years
•  Plant Communities: a collection of plants with
similar characteristics
•  Protection: the act of preservation from harm
•  Urbanization: the process by which rural areas
transform into urban areas due to population
influx
•  Weather: the state of the atmosphere in regards
to temperature, humidity, wind, cloudiness, etc.,
which can change day to day
Plant Adaptations 2
OBJECTIVE
Students will make observations of native plants and
inferences regarding their adaptations.
MATERIALS
•  Adaptation toolkit with
plant metaphors
•  Clipboard, pencil, and
magnifying glass
NATIVE PLANT BINGO
As you make your observations within the park, fill in the
spaces below using the clues to help you. Remember your
Cabrillo NM manners: walk on paths only, no picking of
plants, and be respectful of all living things.
•  Local species list with
names and photos
•  Data Sheets for recording
observations. For K-5 this
will be Native Plant Bingo
Cards. For 6-12th grade
this will be student’s field
notebooks.
WEB RESOURCES
Five Habitats of San Diego:
https://youtu.be/
CLyXOFn7488
Coastal Sage Scrub:
https://youtu.be/BuxticCTj7k
Example Species Guides:
https://www.nps.gov/cabr/
learn/nature/field-guides.htm
Cabrillo National Monument
Crow/
Raven
Chalk
Leaves
(Chalk
Dudleya)
Small Pink
Flowers
Succulent
Your
Favorite
Plant
Shiny or
Waxy
Leaves
See a
Towhee
Fuzzy
Leaves
Lowgrowing
Silver
Plant
Taco
Shaped
Leaves
Leaves
with
Prickly
Edges
Somethin
g as Tall
as You
Free
Space
Small Red
Berries/
Seeds
Needlelike
Leaves
(Pine)
See an
Insect
Purple
Flowers
See a
Lizard
Hear a
Bird
See Seed
Pod
Broomlike
Branches
Tall Grasslike Plant
Smell
Sage
Yellow
Flowers
Spines
(cactus)
Plant Adaptations 3
LESSON DIRECTIONS
1.
What does it all mean?
Discuss adaptations
plants have made to
help them survive in
the Mediterranean
Climate. What are
some similarities found
across these plant
communities? What
are some differences?
How will the students
pledge to conserve
water at their home or
school?
Encourage your class
to interpret their
findings and make
connections.
Cabrillo National Monument
Upon arriving to the Park, we will move
down to Ballast Point Overlook for
introductions. We will begin with a review of
the vocabulary cards, then discuss the
properties of the Adaptation Tool-kits. What
are the adaptations represented and how
can plants use them to help within their
habitats?
2.
Move into an interpretive walk discussing
the plant communities. Students make
observations about the plants; leaf size and
color, leaf texture, plant height, plant spacing
and location of plant communities (North vs.
South). Students take notes on their
observations, draw, and/or fill in data sheets.
3.
Art extension: Students will make plant
rubbings from a few specimens from the park:
Toyon, Lemonade Berry, and Laurel Sumac.
Explore. Observe. Discover.
Plant Adaptations 4
Our sincerest hope is that getting out into nature
with these activities inspire the future stewards of
our most beautiful places.
NGSS STANDARDS
K-5 PRIMARY
“The mission of the National Park Service is to
preserve and protect unimpaired the cultural,
historical, and natural resources of America for this
and future generations.”
For any questions, please find us at:
www.nps.gov/CABR
[email protected]
K-LS1-1. K-ESS3-1.
1-LS1-1. 1-LS3-1.
2-LS2-1. 2-LS4-1.
3-LS3-1. 3-LS3-2.
3-LS4-2. 3-LS4-3.
4-LS1-1. 4-ESS2-1.
5-LS1-1. 5-LS2-1.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
MS-LS1-4. MS-LS1-5.
MS-LS2-1. MS-LS2-2.
MS-LS2-4. MS-LS4-4.
HIGH SCHOOL
HS-LS1-5. HS-LS2-1.
HS-LS2-2. HS-LS2-6.
Photos: Michael Ready & Andrew Rosales Curriculum Development: Andrew Rosales & Alex Warneke Cabrillo National Monument
Plant Adaptations 5