Summary Use a collection of animal parts (bones, shell, teeth, antlers) and/or live animals to study evolution, adaptation, comparative anatomy etc Science content Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7) Biology: Evolution, Natural Selection (7) Lessons activity is in DNA and evolution Evolution by natural selection Animal adaptations for Primaries Materials collection of animal parts e.g. antlers, feather, shell if possible, live animals to observe e.g. gerbils or other caged pet, fish, snake, lizard, worms, wood bugs Procedure Look at each animal part, and discuss it as an adaptation for the animal. Look at the living animals, and ask students to note parts of its body that is an adaptation to its environment. Antlers: After laying the antlers on the table, ask the students what they are. Who they are from. Students can carefully lift them to experience how heavy they are. How does a moose carry around that weight? Use questions of students, along with asking them to notice features to lead discussion on antler formation and function e.g. blood vessel lines: antlers were first cartilage covered in a skin with blood, then replaced by bone. e.g. nibbled part provided calcium for other animals. Grades taught Gr K Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 4
