New
New
Year 6

Animal adaptations

I can describe some adaptations in a range of animals.

New
New
Year 6

Animal adaptations

I can describe some adaptations in a range of animals.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Animals have special features, or adaptations, that help them to survive in their habitats.
  2. Adaptations are passed from one generation of a species to another.
  3. Many different animals have adaptations that protect them from predators.
  4. An environment can change dramatically due to a natural disaster, or slowly over hundreds of years.

Keywords

  • Habitat - The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.

  • Adaptation - An adaptation is a feature of a plant or animal that helps them to survive in their habitat.

  • Survive - To survive means to continue to stay alive.

  • Environment - An environment is the surroundings or conditions that an animal or plant lives in.

  • Predator - An animal that catches and eats other animals is a predator.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that animals are able to adapt during their lifetime, for example that they can change the colour of their fur to better blend in with new surroundings.

Explain that animals adapt slowly, over many years and generations.

This lesson looks at adaptations of chameleons. There are many amazing free online videos showing chameleons demonstrating these adaptations; share some with pupils to really bring this lesson to life and help them understand how these adaptations are really beneficial.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
There are many things animals must do to survive, such as finding food and shelter. What does ‘survive’ mean?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: stay alive
reproduce
grow
create a habitat
Q2.
Match the animal to the food it eats.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:rabbit,grass

grass

Correct Answer:whale,fish

fish

Correct Answer:hedgehog,worms

worms

Correct Answer:giraffe,tree branches and leaves

tree branches and leaves

Correct Answer:tiger,other mammals

other mammals

Q3.
What is a habitat?
The home an animal builds for itself.
Correct answer: The place where a plant or animal lives.
A physical characteristic of a plant or animal.
Q4.
Match the animal to its habitat.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:camel ,desert

desert

Correct Answer:polar bear ,the Arctic

the Arctic

Correct Answer:crab,oceans and sea shores

oceans and sea shores

Correct Answer:tiger ,jungle

jungle

Correct Answer:toad,pond

pond

Q5.
Which of these animals are predators?
Correct answer: tiger
rabbit
deer
Correct answer: shark
Q6.
An animal that eats only plants is called a .
Correct Answer: herbivore

6 Questions

Q1.
The special features that animals have that help them to survive in their habitats are called .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: adaptations, adaptation
Q2.
Which of these adaptations would help an animal to survive in a very cold environment?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: thick fur
Correct answer: layer of fat under their skin
sharp teeth
large, sharp horns
Q3.
Which of these adaptations help animals to stay safe from predators?
short legs
Correct answer: sharp horns
Correct answer: pincers
small feet
Correct answer: excellent eyesight
Q4.
Match the animal to the adaptation that helps to protect it from predators.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:bee,stinger

stinger

Correct Answer:hedgehog,spikes

spikes

Correct Answer:stick insect,camouflage in trees

camouflage in trees

Correct Answer:turtle,shell

shell

Q5.
Adaptations are physical changes that …
animals go through in their lifetime.
animals decide to make.
Correct answer: are passed on from generation to generation.
are the same for each animal.
Q6.
Which of these statements about environments is correct?
Correct answer: Environments can change suddenly and dramatically or slowly over many years.
All changes to environments happen very slowly and take many years.
All changes to environments are very sudden and dramatic.
Environments do not change.