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Why do some sea creatures look so strange?
Animal & Plant Adaptations Unit | Lesson 1 of 3
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Why do some sea creatures look so strange?

Animal & Plant Adaptations Unit | Lesson 1 of 3
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS:
What makes it so much easier for a fish to live underwater, compared to a human?
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DISCUSS: (1 of 2)

What might be challenging about hunting prey in the ocean?

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DISCUSS: (2 of 2)

What traits might help an underwater animal find and catch their food?

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Step
01/18
For this activity, you’ll work with a partner.
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02/18
Get your supplies.
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03/18
Flip each page over and fold it in half along the gray line so that the
words are on the outside. Use your fingernail to make a good crease.
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04/18
Stack the page with an “A” in the corner on top of the one with a “B.”
Fold your pages in half. Use your fingernail to make a good crease.
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05/18
Hold your stack of papers together. Have your partner cut along the dotted lines in the middle of the page. Then do the same for them.
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06/18
Lay your pipe cleaner on the black line in the middle of your journal.
Tuck the pipe cleaner’s ends into the cuts you made. Twist the ends
together tightly on the back of your journal.
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Step
07a/18
Observe the structures of different frogfish.
Discuss.
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07b/18
Here’s what we noticed.
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08/18
Watch the video of a frogfish.
Pay close attention to how it uses the structure on its head.
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09/18
Discuss what you observed with your partner.
Then write your answers to questions 1A and 1B in your field journal.
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10/18
Watch the video of a different kind of frogfish hunting for food.
Pay attention to how it gets close to its prey.
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11/18
Open your field journal to questions 2A and 2B.
Discuss with your partner and write down your answers.
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12/18
Watch the video of a frogfish.
Pay attention to how the frogfish’s traits help it eat its prey.
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13/18
Open your field journal to questions 3A and 3B.
Discuss with your partner and write down your answers.
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14/18
Watch the video of this frogfish.
Pay attention to how its structures help it eat its prey.
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15/18
Open your field journal to question 4.
Discuss with your partner and write down your answer.
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16/18
Open your field journal to the drawing on pages 5 & 6.
Circle and label ALL of the structures that help a frogfish catch and eat food.
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17/18
Flip your field journal to question 6.
Do you agree or disagree with the claim? Why?
Discuss with your partner and write down your answer.
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18/18
Discuss.
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DISCUSS: How do the reef squid’s traits work together to help it catch its prey?
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species


1 of 14

one specific kind of living thing that has similar characteristics and can produce offspring with one another
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trait


2 of 14

something you can observe about a living thing, such as the broad fins of a fish
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behavior


3 of 14

the actions and reactions of living things
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predator


4 of 14

an animal that hunts and eats other animals
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prey


5 of 14

an animal that is hunted by and eaten by another animal
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environment


6 of 14

all the living and nonliving things in a particular place
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evidence


7 of 14

information that can be used to support or reject an idea
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camouflage


8 of 14

to blend in with the place around you
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structure


9 of 14

the specific form and shape of something
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function


10 of 14

what something does
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system


11 of 14

a group of things that affect each other and function as a whole
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adaptation


12 of 14

a physical trait or behavior that helps a living thing survive in its environment
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internal


13 of 14

the inside of something, including the inside of living things
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external


14 of 14

the outside of something, including the outside of living things
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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 4

Animal & Plant Adaptations

Animal Adaptations

4-LS1-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students make observations of an underwater animal, a frogfish, in order to collect evidence that its external structures serve specific functions. In the activity, Frogfish Finder, students use their observations to construct an argument that the frogfish’s external and internal structures work together as part of a system to support their growth and survival.

Preview activity
Please note: This is a NEW lesson we are BETA testing! If you have a Mystery Pack, you’ll need to gather the supplies listed below. They are NOT included in your Pack.
I don't have a Mystery Pack
Not included in your Mystery Pack
Frogfish Field Journal printout 1 per student
Frogfish Field Journal Answer Key printout 1 per class
Pipe Cleaners 1 pipe cleaner per student
Scissors 1 pair per pair
Prep Instructions

We suggest students work in pairs.

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

35 mins

Wrap-Up

10 mins

Grade 4

Animal & Plant Adaptations

Animal Adaptations

4-LS1-1

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Credits