Animal Adaptations Research Project
6th Grade Science
Created by K Crossley, L Wong, M Rehbehn 12/14/07, updated 12/16/08
In this project you will choose ONE animal to research using the sources below. You must answer all the questions below in fact phrase format. You must use at least three different sources of information. Make sure you use NoodleTools to create a bibliography which includes all the resources you use for this project. You will need to print out your bibliography and turn it in.
Here are the questions you must answer about your animal:
- Describe your animal. (For example: physical appearance, weight, length, color, or any other special features.)
- Name all the adaptations that your animal has that make it successful in its habitat.
- Explain how these adaptations help your animal to survive.
- What is your animal’s habitat? (Where does it live? Describe it.)
- How does it feed and survive? (Is it a predator, prey or both?)
- What type of protection does it use? What does it hunt/attack with?
- What is the population of your species (overall and in your specific area)
- What relationship (other than predator/prey) does this animal have with other animals?
Online Sources
SIRS Discoverer - Click on “SIRS Products” when you log in to get to SIRS Discoverer. Click on the “Animals” button. On the right side there will be a list of classes of animals. Click on the class of your animal, and you will get a list of animals in that class. Click on your animal for articles about it. OR type your animal’s name in the search box. NoodleTools: Look at the top of the article you are using to see what type of source this article came from (magazine, newspaper, etc.). That will tell you what type of citation you must use.
Endangered Species E-book – If your animal is an endangered species, use the search box to find information about your animal. This resource is also on the bookcart in print form. NoodleTools: E-books are considered a “book” in NoodleTools. They are on-line versions from a subscription database. Call the database "Gale Virtual".
Websites
Look for your animal in the excellent websites below. Some are organized by your animal’s name, some by its class, and others by its habitat. NoodleTools: Cite all the websites below as WEBSITE.
Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
This is a searchable encyclopedia of thousands of photos, descriptions, sound recordings, and other information about individual animal species.
The Oakland Zoo: Meet the Animals Now!
Use the search box or click your animal’s class and look for their name on the list to find information about your animal.
WhoZoo from the Fort Worth Zoo
Look for your animal under its class.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Click on the class of your animal to see if your animal is included here.
The Wild Ones Animal Index from the Wildlife Trust, Palisades, NY
Look up your animal under the type of species: invertebrates, mammals, herptiles (reptiles and amphibians), or birds.
The Big Zoo: Virtual Zoo
Look up your animal by its class, name and scientific classification.
African Wildlife Foundation
Click on your animal in the animal gallery. Click on “Learn More” for detailed information.
BBC Amazing Animals
Look up your animal by the first letter of it’s name.
Woodland Park Zoo
See if your animal is included here to learn more about it.
How Stuff Works
Explore the world of animals.
National Geographic
Scroll through the alabetical list, or type your animal into the quick search box.
Alaska’s Wildlife from the Alaska Division of Wildlife Conservation
Check this website if your animal lives in Alaska.
Arctic Wildlife Center
If your animal lives in the Arctic, see if it is on this website.
Bug Guide
A good site for all four insects on the list. After you search on your insect, click on the Genus-species name below the photos for detailed info.
ChesapeakBay.net
A great site for animals from the Chesapeake Bay. Click on the "Critter of the Month" link on the lower right of the screen for a complete list of critters.
The Horseshoe Crab
Everything you need to know about horseshoe crabs.
Zipcode Zoo
Use the search box to find your animal. Click on the website for the animal with your animal’s correct scientific name. You can also click on “Load Common Names” or “Load Scientific Names” to search by common or scientific name.
Animals on Defense from The University of Richmond Education Department
Here are four adaptations animals make and information about some animals that use these defenses: camouflage, hibernation, migration and mimicry.
Woodlands Junior High: Animal Adaptations and Survival
An adaptation is a way an animal's body helps it survive, or live, in its environment. Here are adaptations for some animals.
Windows to the Universe: Ecosystems from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
Learn about different ecosystems and the animals that live there.