Grade 3

Big Idea 17: Interdependence

Topic XV: SC.3.L.17.1

Plant and Animal Response to Seasons

BenchmarksBig Idea 17: Interdependence

• SC.3.L.17.1 Describe how animals and plants respond to changing seasons. Cognitive Complexity: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts

• SC.3.N.1.1 Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them individually and in teams through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations. Cognitive Complexity: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning

• SC.3.N.1.2 Compare the observations made by different groups using the same tools and seek reasons to explain the differences across groups. Cognitive Complexity: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning

• SC.3.N.1.3 Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted.

• Cognitive Complexity: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts

Office of Academics - Department of Science

How do plants and animals adapt to changes in their environment?

Winter Fall

Spring Summer

Office of Academics - Department of Science

How do plants and animals adapt to changes in their environment?

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Have you ever noticed that plants growing in different environments look different? The roots, stems, and leaves of a plant have adapted to survive in their environment.

Office of Academics - Department of Science

What is an adaptation?

Office of Academics - Department of Science

It’s a trait that helps a living thing to survive.

What is an adaptation?It’s a trait that helps a living thing to survive.

Office of Academics - Department of Science

What is an adaptation?It’s a trait that helps a living thing to survive.

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Plants and animals adapt to changes in the environment

Office of Academics - Department of Science

•Some animals migrate, some hibernate•Some animals grow or shed fur, hair, or feathers

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Plants and animals adapt to changes in the environment

• Some plants change in different seasons

• Some plants go dormant during winter

• Plants use sunlight, air, and water to make their own food

Office of Academics - Department of Science

What is adaptation?• It’s a trait that helps a living thing to survive

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Animal Migration

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Create your own story board

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Choose 3 different plants and/or animals illustrating how each adapt to their environment in order to survive.

What am I?Where do I live?

1. Cactus

HabitatA. Desert

B. Forest

C. Ocean

D. Wetland

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Plant

What adaptations help me live there?

How do plants adapt to survive in the desert?

Materials (for each group): Water

1 thin sponge (approximately 4 x 3 x 8/16 inches)

1 thick sponge (approximately 4 x 3 x 1 inches)

2 dishes large enough to hold sponges

2 measuring cups and 2 graduated cylinders

Problem Statement: Will a thick sponge (thick leaf) hold more, less or the same amount of water as a thin sponge (thin leaf)?

Hypothesis: ______________________

How do leaves adapt to live in different habitats?

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Procedures:

1. Get one thick dry sponge and one thin dry sponge.

2. Put each sponge in its own dish.

3. Pour equal amounts of water over each sponge.

4. Allow the sponges to sit in the water for a minute.

5. Squeeze the thick sponge into a cup. Use the graduated cylinder to measure how much water is in the cup. Record amount on the data table.

6. Repeat step 5 with the thin sponge.

Data Table

Trial Number_______

Sponge Size Leaf Type Amount of Water Held in Milliliters (mL)

Thick Thick

Thin Thin

Office of Academics - Department of Science

Claim Evidence Reasoning

Claim: Which sponge held more water?

Evidence:

1. How much water did each sponge hold?

2. Compare. How much more?

Reasoning: Why would a plant with thick leaves like thick sponges in the experiment be better in a desert?

Answer: Thick leaves like thick sponges can hold a large amount of water. In places where rain falls infrequently, plants with thick, sponge-like succulent leaves survive the droughts.

Resources

• Biology of Plants –Plant Adaptations• How plants live in different places activities• Habitats –Review animal characteristics and

habitats• Where Should I Live? Activity from

CPALMS.org

Office of Academics - Department of Science