Animal Adaptations by Isabelle Innes

Surfing Sea Otters

iinnes — 2025-05-31 12:46:27 UTC

In this reading, students learn how scientists figured out why a sea otter in California was stealing people's surfboards by considering the sea otters senses, memories, and instincts.

Animal Adaptations

iinnes — 2025-05-31 12:55:53 UTC

Every environment comes with challenges, and living things have all sorts of adaptations that help them survive. Press "play" to see some of the strangest adaptations out there!

iinnes — 2025-05-31 13:28:51 UTC

Engaging images accompany information about animal adaptations.

"The Great Kapok Tree" by Lynne Cherry

iinnes — 2025-05-31 13:37:00 UTC

Conservation Classroom: Suited for Survival at Smithsonian's National Zoo!

iinnes — 2025-05-31 13:51:06 UTC

This virtual school program is part of Conservation Classroom, a collection of monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder (video), engage (live virtual program), act (activities), and connect (video). Follow along with all four parts or pick and choose the videos and activities you want to explore.

iinnes — 2025-05-31 13:58:32 UTC

Do you ever find yourself wondering about something? Join Kaden in this episode of I WONDER to answer the question, what is an adaptation? Explore the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to answer this question, discover different examples of animal adaptations, and learn why they are important.

Animal Photos

iinnes — 2025-05-31 14:00:39 UTC

These Open Access images from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute are available to download and use as you wish!

Lesson 1 - Anchor Phenomenon

iinnes — 2025-05-31 14:12:30 UTC

Check out this animal that seems to defy the idea of survival of the fittest: the sloth! How can such a slow-moving animal be so good at survival?

Lesson 2 - Animal Adaptations

iinnes — 2025-05-31 14:14:55 UTC

Let's make observations of an underwater animal, a frogfish, in order to collect evidence that its external structures serve specific functions.

Lesson 3 - Learned Behavior & Instinct

iinnes — 2025-05-31 14:16:27 UTC

Explore how animals receive information through their senses and process that information in their brain, using instincts and memories to guide their behaviors.

Lesson 2 Vocabulary

iinnes — 2025-06-01 15:48:36 UTC

My Favorite Animal: Sloths

iinnes — 2025-06-12 14:00:10 UTC

Learn amazing facts about sloths.

iinnes — 2025-06-12 14:02:18 UTC

Simple text explaining what sloths look like, where they live, and what they like to eat.

iinnes — 2025-06-12 14:06:51 UTC

Learn about the habitat, diet, and lifestyle of sloths.

The Extreme Life Of A Sloth

iinnes — 2025-06-12 15:26:51 UTC

Sloths are the slowest mammal on the planet. But as strange as they seem the sloth is perfectly adapted to their environment and is actually slow for a very important reason. In fact, sloths are far from boring and are a lot more extreme than it seems.

"Hush Up and Hibernate" by Sandra Markle

iinnes — 2025-06-13 08:30:58 UTC

A tale about a black bear cub that finds every excuse imaginable to avoid the inevitable go-to-bed moment.

Adaptations vs Human Activity

iinnes — 2025-06-13 08:38:04 UTC

Lesson 3

How and Why Do Animals Adapt?

iinnes — 2025-06-13 08:44:19 UTC

Animals adapt, or change, to stay alive. Adaptation can happen in an animal’s body or in the way it behaves.

Game - Animal Adjectives

iinnes — 2025-06-15 13:18:27 UTC

Learn some new vocabulary by choosing animal adjectives from a word bank at the bottom and attaching them to the correct animal.

Game - Prefix & Suffix Fish Game

iinnes — 2025-06-15 13:23:02 UTC

In this game, students create whole fish for Roly to eat by combining common prefixes and suffixes with root words, such as "teach" and "power."

Giant Sloth: Megatherium

iinnes — 2025-06-15 13:33:34 UTC

In graphic novel format, tells the exciting story of a day in the life of a Megatherium, or Giant Sloth.

The Sloth Who Slowed Us Down

iinnes — 2025-06-15 13:35:41 UTC

When the speediest family in the world finds a sweet, slow sloth on their doorstep, they take him in.

Invented by Animals

iinnes — 2025-06-15 13:48:54 UTC

"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth

iinnes — 2025-06-15 13:53:39 UTC

Lesson 3 Vocabulary

iinnes — 2025-06-15 14:04:56 UTC

Creaturepedia

iinnes — 2025-06-18 08:50:30 UTC

Creaturepedia from PBS Kids' Wild Kratts is a fun way for kids to explore all the amazing "creature powers" that allow animals to survive and thrive. Aviva's PowerSuit Maker is an independent or partner activity that allows students to get creative with their adaptation knowledge.

Organism's Adaptations

iinnes — 2025-06-18 08:52:13 UTC

Organisms' Adaptations is one of the most engaging interactives you'll find on the topic of adaptations. Students will digitally interact with animals as they learn about physical and behavioral adaptations and the kinds of adaptations best suited to different biomes, and make predictions about where similar animals are most likely to live.

Plant Adaptations

iinnes — 2025-06-18 08:53:43 UTC

This interactive from Missouri Botanical Garden focuses on plant adaptations in different environments and includes photos, a game, and an adaptation song.

Artic Animal Discovery

iinnes — 2025-06-18 08:55:06 UTC

In Arctic Animal Discovery from the National Park Service, students locate animals on the landscape and hear their voices as they learn more about adaptations in every season of the year.

iinnes — 2025-06-18 16:29:38 UTC

Three-toed sloths have a clever way of protecting themselves from nature's fiercest predators.

🔍 Padlet Exit Activity: Slow but Smart Survivors

iinnes — 2025-06-18 20:30:02 UTC

Click the "+" button to add your response. You can:

Write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences)
OR record a short audio or video (optional)
OR post a sketch/photo of your labeled “Survival of the Slowest” drawing and write a sentence explaining one of the adaptations
Challenge: Read a classmate’s post. Add a comment or question that builds on their idea using accountable talk stems like:
- “I noticed ___, which makes me think ___.”
- “I’d like to add on to what ___ said…”