This video about habitats provides examples of animals in ocean, desert, woodland, polar, and mountain habitats and compares polar bears, panda bears, and brown bears.
The comparison of the different types of bears and their different habitats demonstrates their similarities and differences and is a great example of evolution and adaptation.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video uses descriptive narration and encourages students to tune into their senses and imagine life in diverse habitats.
A focus on adaptations and diversity of organisms in different environments is helpful for examining the NGSS crosscutting concept of structure and function.
Additional Prerequisites
This video is a preview of Discovery Education UK's habitat module. A login is required to view additional content.
Differentiation
Before watching the video, consider having students answer the question, "Why are polar bears, panda bears, and brown bears different?"
After watching the video, students could choose one animal they observed and draw the animal in its habitat. Students could also describe the habitat they drew and how the animal is adapted to it.
Ask students to think about an animal or plant's adaptations and how they relate to their role in the ecosystem as either producers, herbivores, or predators.
Create a list of the animals and habitats in the video and then have students categorize them.
The information shows how important habitats are in creating a climate that allows for the survival and adaptation of both plants and animals. As illustrated in the video, these animals have a variety of adaptive abilities and social skills that help them coexist in their surroundings and interact with other species. It is suggested that teachers use this resource when instructing.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
3-ESS2-2 Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
3-LS3-2 Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.2 Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
