KHEC Curriculum Framework 4.1
Animal Adaptation. Teaching evolutionary concepts can be difficult, especially to younger children. This demonstration lesson introduces a simple concept in evolution: adaptations. Students learn what an adaptation is by constructing two animals from different habitats. The procedure is as follows:
The teacher asks for two students to help with the demonstration. The students have volunteered to be the animals that will be constructed by the class. The teacher asks the class to think of how animals are adapted to their habitats. This works well after a lesson on habitats and the many different habitat types. The interesting types of habitats to use for this demonstration are desert, arctic, and aquatic. The teacher proceeds to "create" an arctic animal and a desert animal based on characteristics given by the class. Coaxing the class along with questions such as, "If you lived in the desert, would you be more likely to be active in the day or at night? Why?" or "If you lived in the arctic, what type of skin covering would you probably have?" By the end of the session the students should be “rolling from laughter” but at the same time they learned the concept how important adaptations are to survival. A list of needed materials is provided.
Source: www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/dino/ (Look under the heading “Evolution Lesson Plans” for Animal Adaptation.)
Science Issues
Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution by Steve Jenkins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2002.
There are millions of different kinds of plants and animals living on the earth. Many millions more lived here in the past. The author raises these questions: Where did they all come from? Why have some become extinct and others lived on? In this remarkable book for children (ages 4 – 8), Jenkins explores the fascinating history of life on earth and the awe-inspiring story of evolution, Charles Darwin's great contribution to modern science.
Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Kristan Lawson.
Chicago: Chicago Review Press. 2003.
The book, suitable for grades 5 – 9, begins with a description of Darwin's family life, privileged childhood, and education. His five-year voyage on the Beagle, during which he collected specimens to send back to England, is vividly described. The author places Darwin's ideas in context with those of other philosophical and scientific thinkers, tracing the work of both his predecessors and contemporaries.
She also explores how his subject's theories were accepted or rejected by others and discusses how the disagreement among scientists and creationists continues to the present time. The text is supplemented by 21 activities.. A list of resources for further research encourages students to delve deeper into the topic.
The Tree of Life: The Wonders of Evolution by Ellen Jackson, Judeanne Winter (Illustrator). Amherst, NY, Prometheus Books, 2004.
This is a simple explanation (for children 4 to 9) of the process of evolution from the first appearance of "almost alive things" to the development of the millions of life forms that exist today. From the ocean's microscopic life to amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, insects, birds, animals, and the first humans, Jackson celebrates the marvels of evolution so that young children can begin to appreciate its significance.
Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story by Lisa Westberg Peters. San Diego: Harcourt Children's Books. 2003.
This picture book is a scientifically accurate account of evolution, starting from one-celled life and moving forward through fish, lizards, and apes to today's human being. The first-person narrative approach is especially child-friendly: "On the outside, we looked like hairy lizards. We hunted all day and had sharp teeth to tear our food. On the inside, our blood ran warm, almost as warm as it does today." Changes to the planet in the forms of continental shifts, an asteroid strike, and volcanoes play their roles. An explanatory afterword and a timeline are included.
Mammals Who Morph: The Universe Tells Our Evolution Story by Jennifer Morgan. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publications. 2006.
Dr. Jane Goodall described this book (for 3rd and 4th grade students) as "A fantastic journey through time. It is a story of mammalian evolution told in a way that will engage and enchant, as well as educate, children and adults alike. It is a must for every school library….”
Four related books by Ellen Jackson for elementary school students in the primary and upper grades:
The Spring Equinox: Celebrating the Greening of the Earth (2003) completes the quartet that includes The Winter Solstice (1994), The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest (2000), and The Summer Solstice (2001). Each of these books describes the events and how they have been celebrated by various culture. They are published by Milbrook Press in Brookfield, Connecticut.
See also The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer. New York, NY:
Dutton Juvenile. 2003) and A Solstice Tree for Jenny by Karen Shragg. Amherst, NY, Prometheus Books. 2001. Jenny's secular parents explain their beliefs.