Year 4 Lesson 4
Survival of the Fittest
Warm-Up Changes in the Environment
Rising sea levels How might animals be affected by a change in their habitat?
Plastic pollution
Mini-lesson How has this animal adapted to living in its habitat? Desert
Camel
Mini-lesson Long eyelashes Keeps sand out of eyes
Hairy Ears Keeps sand out of ears
Nostrils which close Keeps sand out of nose
Thick Lips Can eat prickly desert plants
Large hump Store fat
Wide Feet Easier to walk on sand
Fluctuating body temperature Stops camel from sweating and losing water
Mini-lesson How has this animal adapted to living in its habitat? Arctic
Polar Bear
Mini-lesson Wide, large paws Easier to walk in the snow
White Fur Camouaged with snow and ice
Large teeth
Layer of Fat Keeps warm
Thick, sandpaper-like claws Easier to run on slippery ice and hunt for ďŹ sh
Mini-lesson How has this animal adapted to living in its habitat? Rainforest
Monkey
Mini-lesson Strong arms and legs To swing from tree to tree
Long Tails Support and grab onto trees
Long hands Good for gripping
Flexible feet To aid climbing
Mini-lesson Survival of the Fittest
What do you think seals and seagulls are competing for?
Keywords Complete the keyword activity in your Student Handout: Adaptation
Environmental change
Habitat
Environment Coexist
Let’s Discuss 1. Which three are adapted characteristics of a polar bear? a. A layer of fat, long hands, thick lips. b. A layer of fat, large teeth, thick paws. c. Large teeth, thick paws, nostrils which close.
Let’s Discuss 1. Which 3 are adapted characteristics of a polar bear? b. A layer of fat, large teeth, thick paws.
2. With a partner, discuss how some animals may have to change their habitats because of environmental change.
Let’s Build! Create a system that will start a race
Key Press On a computer you can change the key!
Sound Player: ‘54321 Go’
Challenge 1 Create a system to count how many ‘food items’ have been ‘gathered’ 1
2 Sound Players: ‘Success Sting’
2 Counter blocks: ‘0–30’
2 Compare blocks: ‘= 30’
Challenge 1 Create a system to count how many ‘food items’ have been ‘gathered’ 2
Test your system - play the Race for Food Game! Who will win and survive?
Use 2 bowls: 1 empty, 1 with 30 jelly beans. Move the items from one bowl to the other, competing against the other team. Press the Button each time an item is gathered!
Checks for Understanding 1. How many outputs are on the workspace? a. 3 b. 2 c. 1
2. What are reasons why animals adapt to their habitat? a. Environmental factors may force animals to adapt. b. Animals may decide they want a change. c. Because they have had enough to eat.
Checks for Understanding
1. How many outputs are on the workspace? a. 3
2. What are reasons why animals adapt to their habitat? a. Environmental factors may force animals to adapt.
Debug It!
How can we tell who has won?
Debug It! How can we tell who has won?
Sound Players: ● ‘Lion roar’ ● ‘Wolf’
Which animal team demonstrates survival of the fittest?
Challenge 2 Create an addition to show progress in the ‘race for food’ 1
RGB LED: Team 1 = red
Threshold blocks: ‘True’ = ‘25’
RGB LED: Team 2 = blue
Challenge 2 Create an addition to show progress in the ‘race for food’ 2
Play the game! Look out to see who is close to winning. Will the RGB LED turn red or blue first?
Checks for Understanding 1. What will happen when Team 1 reach 30? a. The red light will come on. b. The ‘Wolf’ sound will play. c. The ‘Lion roar’ sound will play.
2. Which statement about adaptation is correct? a. Animals adapt on a regular basis. b. Animals have kept the same characteristics since for as long as they have existed. c. Animals can adapt to their habitat to aid survival.
Checks for Understanding 1. What will happen when Team 1 reach 30? c. The ‘Lion roar’ sound will play.
2. Which statement about adaptation is correct? c. Animals can adapt to their habitat to aid survival.
Chilli Challenges
Experiment with additional sound. Can you add a sound alert to indicate when a team is getting close to winning?
Experiment with additional light. Can you add virtual RGB LEDs with a Cycle Colours block to indicate when a team has won? Hint: use an Interval block.
Experiment with behaviour blocks. Can you replace the Threshold with a Filter and decide on an effective range?
What have you learned today?
Exit Ticket
Can you annotate your system?
Exit Ticket Now let’s apply what you know!
What might happen if we don’t? Why is protecting the environment important?