Unit Outline: Science – Adaptations of Extreme Environments

KEY: Whole Class ⌘  Small Group  Individualξ 

WeekTopic  Teaching and Learning Activities Group Structure Lesson Focus Resources

Assessment Type

F – Formative

S-Summative

D-Diagnostic  

1

 

(1)  Marine

Marine Animal Adaptations

  Marine animal presentation  

  Focus on ocean and sea animals  

 

Students look at the video and make notes on the different survival

adaptations

⌘

ξ 

Writing

  Students connect adaptations shown in the

video to the animals they have photographs

of 

Marine animals PowerPoint

Marine animals worksheet with

photographs

Science books

(2) Marine

Marine Animal Adaptations

  Marine animal presentation  

  Focus on river animals  

⌘

Writing

  Students make notes from the pr esentation

Marine animals PowerPoint

Science books

(3) Marine

Underwater Marine Animals

 

Watching Finding Nemo 

  Examining the different marine animals  

⌘

Listening and Viewing

  Looking at the variety of marine animals

Writing

  Write down adaptations of animals from the

movie

Finding Nemo DVD

Science books

(F) Identifying marine animals

and their survival adaptations

(4) Arctic

Introduction To The Arctic Environment

 

What are the conditions of the environment?  

  Mind map of the environment and what animals you think live in the

arctic? 

⌘

Listening and Viewing

  Class discussion of an arctic environment

Writing

  Students create a mind map explosion of 

information about arctic environment

Arctic PowerPoint

Science books

2 

(1) Arctic

Arctic Animal Adaptations

 

Arctic animals video

 

Students watch the video of arctic animal adaptations and make notes

on the different animals  

⌘

 

ξ 

Writing

  Students connect adaptations shown in the

video to the animals they have photographs

of 

Arctic PowerPoint

Arctic animals video

Arctic animals worksheets with

photographs

Science books

(2) Arctic

Arctic Animals

  ‘Design’ own arctic animal incorporating adaptations that we have

discussed 

 

All adaptations must help the animal to survive in the cold environment

of the arctic

ξ 

Revision

  Drawing on the information learnt to ‘design’

a new arctic animal

Blank paper

Science books

(3) Arctic

Arctic Plant Adaptations

  Arctic plants video

  Students watch the video of arctic plant adaptations and make notes on

the different plants  

⌘

 

ξ 

Writing

  Students connect adaptations shown in the

video to the plants they have photographs of 

Arctic PowerPoint

Arctic plants video

Arctic plants worksheets with

photographs

Science books

(4) Arctic

Arctic Quiz

 

Students prepare 5 quiz questions each on Arctic adaptations (at least

one plant) 

  Students pair up and deliver their quiz to another student

  Students mark each other’s quizzes 

ξ 

 

Revision

  Creating questions independently

Listening and Viewing

  Listening to other students ideas and

perceptions

Editing

  Peer correction and marking

Science books(S) Arctic Plant and Animal

Adaptations

 

 

WeekTopic  Teaching and Learning Activities Group Structure Lesson Focus Resources

Assessment Type

F – Formative

S-Summative

D-Diagnostic  

3

(1) DesertMeerkat Assessment

 

Students complete the Meerkat assessment  ξ  Meerkat Assessment Meerkat Assessment (S) Meerkat Assessment  

(2) Forest

Introduction To The Forest Environment

 

What are the conditions of the environment?  

  Mind map of the environment and what animals you think live in the

forest? 

⌘

Listening and Viewing

  Class discussion of a forest environment

Writing

  Students create a mind map explosion of 

information about forest environment

Forest PowerPoint

Science books 

(3) Forest

Forest Animals and Plants

  Forest animals and plants video

 

Students watch the video and make notes on the adaptations they see  

 

Students move into small groups to discuss the adaptations they have

noted 

⌘

Writing

  Students make note of important information

while watching the video  

Listening and Viewing

  Students have a discussion and peer teaching

session in small groups about the a daptations

they have noted 

Forest animal and plants video

Science books

(4)

Desert

Marine

Arctic

Forest

Quiz

  Students complete a quiz where they need to identify the environment

the animal is from and the adaptations it has to survive in that

environment

 

Revision

  Structural and behavioural adaptations  

  Desert adaptations 

  Marine adaptations 

  Arctic adaptations 

  Forest adaptations

Adaptations Quiz

Quiz books

(S) Structural and Behavioural

Adaptations