Real? Animals
(NatureScope Discovering Deserts: Page 31)
Fifth Grade Core: Standard 5 Objective 2
Describe how some characteristics could give a species a survival advantage in a
particular environment.
Directions: In this game, students are put in groups and given cards that describe a real
animal that lives in the desert. But the teacher won’t tell them it is a real animal! The
group’s job is to draw what they think this animal would look like (set a short time limit
to finish their art). When the groups are done, the teacher can show the pictures of the
animal and the groups can compare their drawing to a real animal that has those
adaptations.
Materials: Print out pictures and information cards for kids. They should have colored
pencils and a large piece of paper.
Animal Adaptation Clues Key (for the teacher)
1. Kangaroo Rat
a. My hind legs help me jump straight up into the air, out of danger’s way.
b. I eat a lot of seeds and never need to take a drink of water.
c. I use my long tail for balance when I jump
2. Fringe-toed Lizard
a. Scales that stick out on the sides of my toes keep me from sinking into the
sand.
b. My shovel-shaped nose helps me dig a path when I dive under the sand
c. Special scales keep sand out of my eyes
3. Roadrunner
a. My dark skin absorbs the sun’s warming rays
b. I would rather run than fly
c. I catch rattlesnakes to eat by stabbing at them with my beak
4. Spadefoot Toad
a. A sharp ridge on each of my hind feet helps me dig underground
b. Even though I am a desert animal, I can’t reproduce without a lot of
water
c. I sleep through the driest times of the year
5. Jackrabbit
a. I can get all the water I need from the plants I eat
b. I can “gallop” at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour
c. My big ears give off a lot of body heat and help to keep me from
overheating
6. Scorpion
a. I capture insects and other small prey with my large claws
b. One sting from me, and my prey can’t move a muscle
c. If I am female, I carry my young on my back
Cards to give to groups:
1. My hind legs help me jump
straight up into the air, out of
danger’s way.
2. I eat a lot of seeds and never
need to take a drink of water.
3. I use my long tail for balance
when I jump
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
My dark skin absorbs the sun’s
warming rays
I would rather run than fly
I catch rattlesnakes to eat by
stabbing at them with my beak
I can get all the water I need
from the plants I eat
I can “gallop” at speeds of up to
40 miles per hour
My big ears give off a lot of body
heat and help to keep me from
overheating
•
•
•
•
•
Scales that stick out on the sides
of my toes keep me from sinking
into the sand.
My shovel-shaped nose helps me
dig a path when I dive under the
sand
Special scales keep sand out of
my eyes
A sharp ridge on each of my hind
feet helps me dig underground
Even though I am a desert
animal, I can’t reproduce
without a lot of water
I sleep through the driest times
of the year
I capture insects and other small
prey with my large claws
One sting from me, and my prey
can’t move a muscle
If I am female, I carry my young
on my back