Mini-Lesson

Animal Adaptations

Grades 4-6

Students will learn about animal adaptations.

1. Ask: What does it mean to adapt to a situation? Offer students an example of one way humans adapt: They wear coats when it's cold. Have students brainstorm other examples. List responses. Explain that to adapt means to adjust to the environment.

2. Tell students that the timeforkids.com news story A Breathtaking Discovery will give them some information about an animal that adapted to its environment. After sharing the article, reread paragraph 5. Have students give examples of how and why the lungless frog adapted to its environment. Encourage students to think about other animal adaptations.