Twelve adaptation cards, six physical and six behavioral, make up the sort on this 3-page 3rd grade sheet. Students read each card, from a duck's webbed feet to bears hibernating, and write it in a Physical Adaptations or Behavioral Adaptations column. Page 2 asks for two short explanations, one for each kind, beside a giraffe and a squirrel. Page 3 gives the sorted chart and sample answers.
“Tell physical adaptations (body parts or features) from behavioral adaptations (things an animal does).”
Question 1 asks students to place all twelve cards, such as polar bear's thick fur and wolves hunting in packs.
“Explain how an adaptation helps an animal survive.”
Questions 2 and 3 each ask for one explanation.
Twelve cards in a grid. The sheet describes a physical adaptation as a body part or feature and a behavioral adaptation as something an animal does. Students write each card into a two-column chart.
Question 2 asks how one physical adaptation helps an animal survive, next to a giraffe picture. Question 3 asks the same for a behavioral adaptation, next to a squirrel with an acorn.
The sorted chart, six cards in each column, and sample answers for both questions.
Do one card together
Place chameleon's color change on the board first and ask students to justify a column. Some put it under behavioral because the animal does it, and the discussion sets up the definitions.
Skunk and porcupine
Ask why a skunk spraying is behavioral while a porcupine's quills are physical. Both protect the animal, so the difference has to come from the definitions.
Cut and sort
Copy a spare sheet and cut the twelve cards apart so pairs can sort them on the desk before writing in the chart.
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