Ms. Malik: Lesson 2
For additional information see: Section 5.3 of your Science Textbook
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Organisms have to make adjustments or change in
behaviour, physiology, and structure to be better
suited for their environment
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Fatty layer on polar bear
Example: Chameleon
 Profile: reptile, lives in
trees, feeds on insects
 Adaptation: changes its
colour to blend with
background (aka
camouflage)
 Adaptation: long tongue
with sticky end to catch
food
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How does camouflage help the chameleon
catch insects?
How does camouflage help protect the
chameleon from predators?
What other animals can you think of that use
camouflage for protection or high from prey?
Example: Monarch butterflies
Profile: a nectar feeding insect, lives in
Southern Canada
 Adaptation: produces a chemical that gives
its body a bitter taste
 Adaptation: wings carry a bright pattern so it
is easy to see
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How does the monarch butterfly benefit from
its adaptations?
Does this combination of adaptations make
every monarch butterfly safe from birds.
Explain.
The combination of a poison or unpleasant
chemical and bright colouring to warn
possible predators is not unusual. What other
animals can you think of that has similar
adaptation?
Example: Viceroy butterflies
Profile: looks like the monarch,
but doesn’t taste bitter
Adaptation: birds who have
tasted a monarch avoid
viceroy because they think its
a monarch
Compare the monarch and the viceroy butterfly do
you see differences?
 Is the viceroy adaption as effective as the
monarch’s? Explain
 How might they viceroy colour affect monarch
butterflies?
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Pretending to be something else
Having “scary” patterns
Using strong scent
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Textbook page. 261 “UNDERSTANDING
CONCEPTS: #2,3”
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Unfinished work is for homework. I will be
checking for completion next week.
Example of Level 4+ Journal
 Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_HWqlm
vX1k
(11:30)
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