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Living Things Adapt

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Living Things Adapt

Living Things Adapt

Animals adapting to their environment

🎯 Success Criteria

By the end of this worksheet, I can:

Explain what adaptation means

Give examples of physical adaptations

Give examples of behavioural adaptations

Explain why living things adapt

🧠 What is Adaptation?

Adaptation means when living things change to survive better in their environment.

1. Circle the best definition of adaptation:

When animals move to new places

When living things change to survive better

When animals eat different food

2. Fill in the blank:

Living things adapt to help them _____________ in their environment.

💪 Physical Adaptations

Physical adaptations are changes to an animal's body parts.

3. Match the animal to its physical adaptation:
1. Polar bear
2. Giraffe
3. Duck
4. Cactus
A. Webbed feet for swimming
B. Thick spines instead of leaves
C. Long neck to reach high leaves
D. Thick fur to stay warm
4. Draw and label one physical adaptation you can see on this animal:

Sentence starter: This animal has _____________ to help it _____________.

🏃 Behavioural Adaptations

Behavioural adaptations are things animals do to survive.

5. Which of these are behavioural adaptations? (Tick all that apply)

Birds flying south for winter

A chameleon's long tongue

Bears hibernating in winter

Sharp claws on a cat

Bees doing a waggle dance

6. Explain one behavioural adaptation:

Sentence starter: _____________ (animal) does _____________ because it helps them _____________.

🌿 New Zealand Examples

7. Fill in the blanks about New Zealand animals:

The kiwi has a long _______ to find food in the ground at night.

The tuatara can slow down its _______ rate when it's cold.

The kea uses its strong _______ to crack open nuts and seeds.

8. Choose one New Zealand plant or animal and describe how it is adapted:

🌟 Extension Questions (Challenge)

9. Explain why adaptations take a very long time to happen:
10. What might happen to animals if their environment changes quickly (like climate change)?
11. Design an imaginary animal perfectly adapted for living in Antarctica. Draw and label its adaptations:

My animal's name: _________________________

Its special adaptations are:

📚 Reflection

12. What was the most interesting adaptation you learned about today?
13. How confident do you feel about adaptations now?

Very confident - I understand everything!

Quite confident - I understand most things

A bit unsure - I need more practice

Not confident - I need help

About This Worksheet

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