Amazing adaptations
Science and technology
Students become scientists for the day as they explore the living world of the Royal National Park. Through hands-on investigations, they examine the structural features and adaptations of native plants and animals and consider how these traits help them survive in their environment. Students observe wildlife in their natural habitats, measure and record environmental conditions, and learn to interpret scientific data. By combining fieldwork, observation, and creative expression, this program deepens students’ understanding of how living things are connected to and influenced by their surroundings
Site options
| 10:00 | Introduction and Acknowledgement of Country |
| 10:20 | Examine relevant preserved animals and discuss their adaptations for survival |
| 11:30 | Recess |
| 12:00 | Find and observe animals relevant to the ecosystem visited, e.g., birdwatching, dipnetting, crab searching, finding invertebrates in a leaf litter survey |
| 1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:30 |
Learn about plant adaptations on a bushwalk Complete scratch art illustrating a plant adaptation Measure and record physical conditions using scientific equipment |
| 2:00 | Conclusion and depart |
* There may be variations to timetable based on specific location, group size and weather
Tier 2:
observe, describe, explain, compare, identify, examine, investigate, measure, analyse, conclude
Tier 3:
adaptation, environment, survival, behaviour, structure, reproduction, sustainability, variable, ecosystem, evolution
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017)
Living world
Outcomes
- plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST3-1WS-S
- examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-4LW-S
Content
Growth and survival of living things
- describe how changing physical conditions in the environment affect the growth and survival of living things, for example:
- Aboriginal Peoples’ use of fire-stick farming
- temperature of water in aquatic environments
- Adaptations of living things
Adaptations of living things
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describe adaptations as existing structures or behaviours that enable living things to survive in their environment (ACSSU043) SciT
-
describe the structural and/or behavioural features of some native Australian animals and plants and why they are considered to be adaptations, for example: ComT SciT
- shiny surfaces of leaves on desert plants
- rearward facing pouch of a burrowing wombat
- spines on an echidna
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)
Knowledge of our world and beyond inspires sustainable solutions
Outcomes
- uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices ST3-SCI-01
- poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data ST3-PQU-01
Content
Living things may change over millions of years, in response to their environments
- Observe behavioural and structural adaptations of plants and animals, and suggest how these may help them survive in their environments
- Examine and explain how the characteristics of flowers, fruit and seeds are adaptations for reproduction in plants
- Describe how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sustainable practices continue to protect the environment
"The students learnt a lot and had so much fun. They loved all the hands on experience and the staff's knowledge of plants and animals was very evident which helped students gain more of an understanding of adaptations."