5E’s- EXPLORE (2-3 lessons)
 To provide hands on, shared experiences on animal adaptations
WEEK/ AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
LESSON LINKS
2 Science Understanding
Living things have structural
features and adaptations
that help them to survive in
their environment (ACSSU04
3)
Science Inquiry Skills
With guidance, pose
clarifying questions and
make predictions about
scientific
investigations (ACSIS231)
Identify, plan and apply the
elements of scientific
investigations to answer
questions and solve
problems using equipment
and materials safely and
identifying potential
risks (ACSIS086)
Decide variables to be
changed and measured in
fair tests, and observe
measure and
record data with accuracy
using digital technologies as
appropriate (ACSIS087)
Construct and use a range of
representations, including
tables and graphs, to
represent and describe
 To support students to investigate and explore ideas about animal adaptations
 Formative assessment
SPECIFIC LESSON ASSESSMENT TEACHING & LEARNING RESOURCES
OBJECTIVE (what & how) EXPERIENCES
(include learner diversity)
Students are able to FORMATIVE Introduction
observe, record and - Review previous lessons.
interpret the results of Work sheet will - As a class identify what is an adaptation and the three
their investigation show the different types.
evidence of the - Think of 2 examples of each adaptation as a class.
Students are able to two objectives - Explain we will be playing a 5-minute game called the
record data in a table that will be Hawk and the Prey. To play this game there is 3 hawks,
and represent it in a marked on a the rest of the class are prey vary of other animals e.g
graph to interpret checklist possum, mice) students walk around acting like animals
findings and when the teacher yells stop the students must freeze
so the hawks do not spot them. If a hawk spot them move
they get spotted they are then out.
Body
- Explain that today we will be investigating how animals
have adapted to their environment.
- Ask students how they think little animals can survive in
the wild when they are a lot of other animals that eat
them?
- Introduce the work camouflage; ask if any students know
what is means. Give meaning to students
- Do you think animals that can camouflage will help them Newspaper
survive in the desert? White paper
- We are going to investigate if being able to camouflage Confetti made out of
will help animals in their environment by placing confetti newspaper and white
on some newspaper and paper and seeing how many each paper
team member can collect in 20 seconds. Timer
- What are some variables that can help us spot the confetti
quickly? worksheet
- As a class create a question to investigate
Example of investigation questions are:
What happens to the number of confetti pieces spotted when we
change the size of the confetti
 observations, patterns or - What happens to the number of confetti pieces spotted
relationships when we change the colour of the confetti
in data using digital What happens to the number of confetti pieces spotted when we
technologies as change the colour of the background they are sprinkled on?
appropriate (ACSIS090) Example of investigation questions are:
Reflect on and suggest What happens to the number of confetti pieces spotted when we
improvements to scientific change the size of the confetti
investigations (ACSIS091) - What happens to the number of confetti pieces spotted
when we change the colour of the confetti
Differentiation - What happens to the number of confetti pieces spotted
when we change the colour of the background they are
sprinkled on?
Enabling: To help students get their ideas out teacher can scribe for the Student can pick the investigation question as table
student. - Handing out the investigation sheet go through giving
examples
Students will scatter confetti on their different surfaces and have
Extending: Students show results in two different graph to investigate 20 seconds to pick up as much as they can. All students have a turn
they then change the background and conduct the tests again.
which shows the change in data if there is any Remind students that they need to act like predators its not about
wining its about conducting a fair test, so pick one up at a time.
Once students have finish they finish filling out the work sheet and
writing their information into the table.
Health and Safety
Conclusion
As a class discuss the investigation
What did we learn?
What did we find out that we didn’t expect?
Were your predictions correct?
Students all have roles so every student gets a turn at everything. What went well in your investigation
What could have been done better?
What are you still wondering about?

Students review the TWLH chart and see if they can now answer
any of the questions that they had at the start of the topic and
included anything else they have learnt.