Natural Selection and Adaptation Complete Unit

A highly engaging NGSS aligned unit covering natural selection and adaptations. Students will enjoy the interesting reading passages based on scientific phenomena that are given as a central theme to each lesson. Reading comprehension questions are aligned with ELA standards. Also included are several fun, engaging activities that students will enjoy while gaining a deeper understanding of the content. Students sharpen their math skills by graphing data and analyzing results. Students also use their creative side in several activities as they imagine solutions or create and draw their own ideas. Quick check assessment included.

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*** NOW WITH COMPLETE LESSON PLANS INCLUDING VIDEO LINKS, MATERIALS NEEDED AND SUGGESTIONS FOR EACH DAY! ***

Natural Selection and Adaptation Unit Includes:

• Natural selection introduction activity

• Trait lesson and activity

• Create a creature with traits that suit the environment that the student chooses

• Peppered Moths reading passage, comprehension questions and graphing activity

• Adaptations lesson page and activity

• Woolly Mammoth reading passage, comprehension questions & solution activity

• Adaptations sorting activity

• Mimicry web quest

• Darwin’s Finches reading passage and comprehension questions

• Argumentative writing piece

• Collaborative beak activity

• Plant Adaptations reading questions and comprehension questions

• Petrified National Forest picture observation activity

• Multiple choice formative assessment

• Make your own word search

• Eye catching classroom poster set

• Teacher pages and answer key

This product is aligned to the following NGSS, ELA and Math Common Core standards:

NGSS Performance Expectations:

 3-LS4-2. Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.

Common Core Math Alignment -

Represent and interpret data.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.B.3

Common Core ELA Alignment -

Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3
Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.

Craft and Structure:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).

ELA 4

Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1
Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.3
Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.

Craft and Structure:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.4

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.