Grade 08 Science - EC: S8.B.1.1.1
Grade 08 Science - EC: S8.B.1.1.1
Continuum of Activities
The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.
This continuum of activities offers:
- Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
- Questions/activities that grow in complexity
- Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance
Grade Levels
8th Grade
Course, Subject
Science
Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content
Activities
- Define a structural adaptation.
- List 3 examples of structural adaptations.
- List 3 characteristics of a zebra.
- A pelican and a flamingo are both birds. However, they have different characteristics to help them survive in their natural ecosystem. How are the characteristics of these birds similar? How are they different?
- Sharks do not have any natural predators. Investigate 5 of a shark’s characteristics and/or structural adaptations. Explain how you think each of these contributes to the shark’s position at the top of its food chain.
Answer Key/Rubric
- A structural adaptation is a physical characteristic of an organism.
- Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- Bill of a bird
- Fur on a bear
- Sharp teeth
- Long legs
- Long neck
- Root systems
- Waxy coating on leaves
- Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- Stripes
- White and black
- Horse like body
- Short mane
- Large ears
- Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- Both have wings.
- Both have a large wingspan.
- Both have webbed feet.
- Both can fly.
- Flamingos have longer legs than pelicans.
- Flamingos have long necks.
- Flamingos are pink. Pelicans can be white or brown.
- Pelicans have a long beak pouch to catch fish.
- The shape of a flamingo’s bill determines its diet. Flamingos with a deep-keeled bill will eat algae and diatoms. Flamingos with a shallow-keeled bill will eat insects, aquatic invertebrates, and small fish.
- Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
- Sharp teeth – can easily bite into other animals
- Thick, tough skin – difficult for an animal to bite it
- Upper side of skin is dark to blend in – a predator would not be able to see a shark from above, the shark would be able to see it approaching from below
- Powerful jaws – can easily bite another animal
- Cartilage – allows them to move very quickly through water, could escape predators
