Lesson+3+-+Analyzing+a+Specific+Adaptation


 * __OBJECTIVES__**: Students will be able to...
 * Understand that living things have features that enable them to meet their needs
 * Understand that specialized mouth structures enable animals to eat certain types of foods

This question should be answered in the Think/Write/Pair/Share format.
 * __DO NOW:__** Animals have specialized mouth structures that help them capture, handle, and eat the food available to them in their environment. Please examine the [|Bird Food] pictures, which show different types of birds eating different types of food. Answer the following question:
 * How do different beak shapes help birds eat different kinds of food?

1) With your science buddy, look at the [|Bird Beak]pictures and guess what type of food each bird eats. Record your predictions and then upload them to the discussion tab of this page. Then, click on at least ONE other group's predictions and comment on what you think. Do you agree/disagree with their predictions? Why? Be as clear and specific as possible.
 * __ACTIVITY:__**

2) Watch the [|Unhinged!]video, which compares the mouth structures of humans and snakes. Take notes on how the mouths of these organisms are specialized for eating certain types of food.

3) With your science buddy, look at the [|Animal Mouths] pictures and think about how the mouths of these animals are specialized to catch, chew, and swallow particular foods. As you look at each picture, try to imagine what kind of food that animal eats. Look at the shape, for example, of the mouth, tongue, jaw, and teeth for clues.

__**WRAP-UP/ASSESSMENT:**__ Choose one of the animals from the Animal Mouths pictures from Step 3, and create a Microsoft Powerpoint slideshow presentation about its adaptations. You must answer the following questions in your slideshow:

Although you all have experience in creating slideshows, just in case, here is a link for kid-friendly directions on how to create a PowerPoint slideshow: [|ppkids.pdf]
 * Can you guess what each animal eats?
 * How does the structure of their mouths give clues about the animal's diet?
 * Do you see similarities between your animal and one of the other animals pictured? How are their mouthparts similar or different?
 * Which animal's mouthparts are the most similar to our own?
 * What kind of a mouth do you think an animal that eats grass has?

You MUST use at least THREE pictures in your slideshow. Each slideshow must contain at least six slides. You may either upload your finished slideshows to this wiki, or you may email it to me at sindiciani@malden.mec.edu

Acceptable websites to search for pictures/diagrams/information: [|www.onekey.com] [|www.factmonster.com] [|www.kidskonnect.com]