read about structure and function

READING MATERIAL

Read About Structure and Function

STRUCTURE OF LIVING THINGS DEFINITIONA structure is anything made up of parts held together. Plants and animals have many structures that help them survive. Some structures are internal, like the lungs, brain, or heart. Other structures are external, like skin, eyes, and claws. Some structures are unique, like the long neck of a giraffe. Other structures are more common, like a heart.

To better understand the structure and function of living things….

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Animal Structure: All animals have structures that help them survive.All animals have structures that help them survive in their environment. Some structures help animals find food, like the amazing eyesight of an eagle. Other animals have camouflage to help them hide from predators. Some structures are very unique to certain animals, like the water monitor lizard’s long, forked tongue. They use it to smell and find food.

One special structure that insects have is their hard outer skeleton, called an exoskeleton. Exoskeletons are like wearing armor. It protects insects from predators and keeps insects from drying out. Exoskeletons can also have special structures on them, like the horns on some beetles that are used to compete with other beetles for mates.

Plant Structure: Plants also have structures that help them survive.Plants have different parts, like roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. These structures help them survive.

Some plants have really long roots that help the plant gather water from deep below the surface of the Earth.

Other plants have flowers that are the perfect shape for insects to visit and help with pollination.

Plants that live in really dry areas, like a desert, have special leaves. The spines on a cactus help protect it from animals that might try to eat the cactus in order to get the water stored inside.

Animal and Plant Structures: Each structure has a specific function.Each plant and animal structure has a special purpose. When you think of elephants, you probably envision their long trunks and floppy ears. Both of those structures have a specific function that helps elephants survive. An elephant’s trunk is a special structure that helps gather food. The big floppy ears help elephants hear noises that are far away.

Plant structures also have specific functions. Corn has special roots that help support the plant and keep it from falling over when fruit is growing on it.

Pine trees have leaves that look like needles instead of big and flat leaves like an oak tree. This helps them conserve water.

EXAMPLES OF THE STRUCTURES & FUNCTIONS OF LIVING THINGS

Whip spiders capture prey with unique legs. The special claw-like grabbers are a specialized structure used for gathering food.

Geckos have the ability to stick to almost any surface. Scientists were inspired by the gecko to create a super sticky tape that is really strong but doesn’t leave residue when it is taken off surfaces.

The “sea coconut” is the largest and heaviest seed in the world. These extra large seeds hold nutrients for the growing plant, and they also float so they can travel far across the ocean.

ANIMAL AND PLANT STRUCTURES VOCABULARY

Structure Anything made up of a number of parts held together in a particular way.

Internal Structures

Structures found on the inside of living things, such as the heart, lungs or brain.

External Structures

Structures found on the outside of living things like skin, eyes and claws.

Whip Spider

Also called a tailless whip scorpion, they are harmless to humans. They have eight legs but only six are used for walking. They are found in tropical regions worldwide and like to come out at night. They eat mostly insects and have many interesting internal and

external structures discussed in the video.

ExoskeletonA type of skeleton found on the outside of a living thing that covers its body for

protection. Common examples include ants, beetles and crabs. While an exoskeleton provides protection, it also needs to be shed for an animal to grow larger.

Endoskeleton“Endo” means internal or within so an endoskeleton is a skeleton that is on the inside of

a living thing. Humans and all mammals have endoskeletons. Bugs and beetles for example have exoskeletons.

ANIMAL AND PLANT STRUCTURES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What are some of the functions of Bob the Monitor Lizard’s claws?Bob’s claws are used for digging, climbing and catching prey.

What structure gives the Monitor Lizard an enhanced sense of smell?Bob the Monitor Lizard has a forked tongue, which enhances his sense of smell and helps him find prey. This is the same type of tongue a snake has. It is very sensitive to particles of matter in the air.

What are some of the structures and functions of the whip spider?The whip spider has big arm-like jaws at the front of its body to help it catch prey. It also has a pair of very long thin legs covered in hairs that it uses to sense things in its environment.

What is an exoskeleton?Exoskeletons are hard structures found on the outside of the body of some animals. Common examples include ants, beetles and crabs.

What is the function of the coloring on a butterfly wing?Some butterfly wings are colored to look exactly like a leaf, which camouflages it and protects it from predators.

1. True or false: all structures are made by humans. ___________________________________________________

2. Sort these into the correct category: skin, heart, eyes, lungs, brain, claws

Internal Structures External Structures

3. What is the function of the water monitor lizard’s claws?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is a disadvantage of having an exoskeleton?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Fill in the blanks using the words small and large.

Very _______________ seeds might allow them to be carried by the wind easier, while very ______________

seeds provide the plant with additional nutrients to grow.

6. What type of animal has a structure that inspired humans to make glow sticks?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What function might butterfly wings that look like leaves have?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is the function of the horn structures that some male beetles have on their heads?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Name one structure that the whip spider has and mention its function.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Explain one function of the tiny, needle-like leaves of a pine tree.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

STRUCTURES OF LIVING THINGS

GENIUSCHALLENGE

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________________________

© 2018 Generation Genius, Inc.Worksheet by Generation Genius © 2019Worksheet by Generation Genius © 2019

https://www.generationgenius.com/

READING MATERIAL

Read About Adaptations

DEFINITIONS OF PLANT & ANIMAL ADAPTATIONSAn adaptation is a characteristic of a living thing that helps it survive in its environment. An environment includes everything living and non-living in the area that a plant or animal lives in. All living things have adaptations, even humans.

To better understand how adaptation work…


Animals adapt to their environment.Adaptation is all about survival. When the environment changes dramatically, some animals die, others move to another location, and some develop adaptations over generations that help them survive.

Sometimes the environment changes dramatically due to a natural disaster and sometimes it changes slowly over thousands of years. In each case, over many generations, animals may develop new adaptations to help them survive in their new home.

Page 1

Animals adapt to protect themselves.Many different animals have adaptations that protect them from predators. Some of these adaptations are behavioral, allowing them to act a certain way to avoid being seen by a predator.

For example, sloths move very slowly through trees making them hard to spot. Their long, hairy bodies have algae growing on them to blend in with the trees.

Some adaptions allow animals to escape, such as lizards with tails that snap off when a predator tries to capture it.

Other adaptations make animals difficult to eat, such as an armadillo. This unique animal is covered by “armored” plates and it can roll into a tight ball when it feels threatened.

Adaptations help animals obtain food.Hummingbirds have long, skinny beaks that help them drink nectar deep inside of flowers. This special adaptation, plus its ability to hover over flowers, make the hummingbird very specialized. Since it can use a food source that most other birds cannot get to, it does not need to compete with most other birds for food.

Other birds have interesting beak adaptations that help them gather food. Pelicans have large pouch-like beaks to scoop up fish. Hawks have hook-like beaks to rip apart their prey. In all these cases, the special beaks help the animal survive.

Page 2

Some animals have unique adaptations.Some animals, such as giraffes, have more than one unique adaptation. A giraffe’s long neck allows it to reach food sources in the Serengeti region of Africa that other land animals cannot reach. Giraffes also have very long tongues, reaching 16-18 inches. They use their tongues as tools to pull leaves from branches. Look carefully at the tip of the giraffe’s tongue. The end is darker than the back! That protects the tongue from sunburn.

Echidna are found in the deserts of Australia and also have unique adaptations. Their long nose helps them locate food by sensing the electrical movements created by ants and termites. Then they use their long tongues to get into ant and termite mounds.

Their large feet are powerful digging tools which they use to bury themselves underground to keep cool.

Page 3

PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATION EXAMPLES

A dog’s sense of smell is 1 million times more sensitive than humans.This adaptation allows them to find their food and detect territorial markings from other dogs. Some dogs are trained to use their powerful sniffers to aid in search and rescue operations.

A cat’s eyes are adapted for night-time hunting. Cats also have retractable claws used for climbing, hunting, and defending themselves.

The strong leg muscles of deer help them run up to 30 miles per hour. Speed is an adaptation that animals use to escape from predators. It helps them survive.

PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS VOCABULARY

Adaptation A characteristic of a living thing that helps it survive in its environment.

EnvironmentThe environment includes everything living and nonliving in an area. For example the

environment of a giraffe has grass, tress, water, other animals and non-living things like rocks and soil.

ArmadilloA mammal that is covered in armor made of bony plates. They are usually the size of a

small dog and some can roll into a ball to protect themselves.

Page 4

SlothA slow-moving mammal found in tropical forests that hang from trees and eat mostly

leaves. Sloths are known for moving extremely slowly.

Predator An animal that eats other animals.

Prey An animal that is eaten by other animals.

PLANT AND ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why is a giraffe’s long tongue an adaptation?Giraffe’s long tongues help them obtain food in the wild, which are leaves from very tall and thorny plants. Their long tongues help them bend back the thorns to pull the leaves off without getting pricked by the thorns.

What evidence supports the argument that giraffe’s tongues are protected from sunburn?The tip of giraffe’s long tongue is exposed to the sun for many hours a day as they feed. Having a dark colored tongue is thought to be an adaptation to keep the tip of the giraffe’s tongue from getting sunburned.

What is an adaptation besides its tongue that helps a giraffe obtain food?A giraffe’s long neck is an adaptation that helps the giraffe reach foods that other animals can’t eat, such as leaves that are very high up in trees.

What adaptations does the armadillo have to defend itself?The armadillo has tough plates on its back to defend it from predators. The armadillo in the video also has the ability to roll into a ball to further protect its soft underside.

What types of adaptations do sloths have to help them survive?Sloths have long arms and claws to help them hang from trees. They also have camouflage, which means they are similar in color to the trees around them, which makes it difficult for predators to see them. They also move slowly, which makes them even more difficult to see.

Page 5

1. What do you call a characteristic of a living thing that helps it survive?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What part of a hummingbird is adapted to help it obtain food from inside flowers?

a. beak b. wings c. eyes d. head

3. True or false: all animals have adaptations. _________________________________________________________

4. What three things could happen to an organism if its environment changes?

a. _________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________________________________

c. _________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Which type of bird has a beak adapted to help it scoop up fish?

a. hawk b. pelican c. finch d. hummingbird

6. List two adaptations an armadillo has to protect itself.

a. _________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________________________________________

7. How does the coloring of a giraffe’s tongue help it survive?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What adaptations does a sloth have to help protect it from predators?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What is an important adaptation to human hands and what does it allow us to do?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. List two adaptations that can help an echidna find and eat food.

1. __________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________

ADAPTATIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

GENIUSCHALLENGE

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________________________



READING MATERIAL

Read About Food Webs

FOOD WEB DEFINITIONTo understand how plants and animals interact, scientists make diagrams called food chains. A food chain shows a sequence of living things in which one organism eats the one below it. Most animals eat more than one thing, so to show ALL the feeding relationships, we use food webs which are made of many intersecting food chains.

To better understand the food web definition….


Energy in food can be traced back to the sun.Living things need a constant supply of energy. The sun provides that energy, which is transformed into food by plants through photosynthesis.

Herbivores (plant-eating animals) eat the plants and receive energy. When the herbivore is eaten by a carnivore (an animal that eats herbivores), the energy from the herbivore is transferred to the carnivore. The transfer of energy from one organism to another makes up a food chain.

Page 1

Animals eat to get energy and building blocks.All living things need food to provide materials for growth. Food chains start with organisms that make their own food, called producers. Plants are the most common producers. Animals are called consumers because they do not make their own food -- they eat, or consume, other organisms.

A food chain typically only has a few steps (usually 4 at the most). This is because each time one organism eats another, some of that energy is used up and released as heat.

In fact, you are releasing heat energy right now as you read this because your body is burning food to keep warm! Since some energy gets used up in each step of the food chain, there can only be a few steps, otherwise there is not enough energy left for the organism at the top.

Page 2

A food web is a model of intersecting food chains.Most organisms can eat, and be eaten, by many different animals. A food chain wouldn't be able to show this. Food webs show all these connections. They are more complicated but more accurate.

In the African savannah food web shown here, we can see multiple arrows pointing to different animals. The arrows show the direction the energy is transferred. For example, we can see that zebras eat trees and grasses, so arrows from trees and grasses are pointing to a zebra.

The arrows pointing from the zebra to cheetahs, hyenas, and lions tell us that the zebra is eaten by these animals.

The lions are at the top of the food web, which means they are not eaten by any other type of animal (except by decomposers when it dies). We call this an apex predator.

Decomposers break down dead organisms.One group of consumers that is often not shown in a food webs are decomposers. Decomposers are organisms (mostly bacteria and fungi)that break down dead plants and animals, eventually turning them into nutrients that will be added to soil.

These nutrients are very important to continue the cycle in the ecosystem. Slugs, earthworms, millipedes, and centipedes also help break down dead things. Without decomposers, nutrients would not get recycled and we would have dead material piled up everywhere.

Page 3

FOOD WEB EXAMPLES

The great horned owl is an apex predator. They eat mice, rats, frogs, snakes, and rabbits. That keeps the prey populations from getting too high and overgrazing the ecosystem.

Overhunting can make an ecosystem out of balance.If wolf populations are reduced, the population of deer would increase dramatically. This causes areas to be overgrazed meaning there is not enough grass for other animals. Everything needs to be in balance.

Common soil creatures, such as earthworms, are decomposers. They recycle nutrients in the ecosystem through decomposition.

FOOD CHAIN AND FOOD WEB VOCABULARY

Food Chain A sequence of living things in which each one feeds on the living thing below it.

Food Web A food web is a model made of intersecting food chains.

PhotosynthesisA process by which plants use sunlight to make sugar from carbon dioxide and

water.

ProducerA living thing (almost always a plant) that takes energy from the sun and make its

own food. They are found in the first level of a food web.

Page 4

Apex PredatorAn animal found at the top of a food web and is not eaten by any other animals.

Examples include sharks, owls and lions.

DecomposerLiving things that break down dead and decaying organisms. The most common

decomposers are bacteria and fungi.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS

Why do animals eat other animals?Animals eat other animals to obtain energy and building blocks (nutrients) in order to grow and repair.

What are producers and consumers and how do they get their names?Plants are producers because they produce their own food through photosynthesis. Animals are consumers because they consume plants or other animals.

What role in the food web does the eagle play?An eagle is an apex predator, meaning it is at the top of the food web. Nothing else will attack and eat an eagle. Eagles will eat things like birds, snakes, mice and other animals.

What is an apex predator and why are they critical for the health of the ecosystem?An apex predator is an animal that feeds on other animals but is at the top of the food web, meaning that it has no predators. Apex predators help control the balance of an ecosystem by keeping the populations of other animals in check.

What do zebras eat and what eats zebras?Zebras eat grass and they are eaten by predators like hyenas and lions.

Page 5

1. Food of almost any kind can be traced back to what? _______________________________________________

2. True or false: animals eat other animals to get energy and building blocks to help them grow and repair.

____________________

3. Which is an example of a producer?

a. Lettuce b. Mouse c. Human d. Fish

4. What is an animal that eats producers called? _________________________________

5. Fill in the blanks below using the following words to model the flow of energy from the sun to a human:

cow, grass, human, sun.

Grass uses energy from the __________________ to grow. A _________________ then eats the grass. When a

____________________ eats a hamburger, energy is again passed up the food chain.

6. Draw a 3-step food chain from left to right starting with the sun:

7. What is a food web? _____________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. True or false: a zebra is an example of an apex predator. ____________________________

9. What role do apex predators play in ecosystems? ___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What do decomposers do? _____________________________________________________________________

FOOD WEBS

GENIUSCHALLENGE

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________________________



READING MATERIAL

Read About Ecosystems

DEFINITION OF ECOSYSTEMSAn ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms and their environment. Living things interact with each other and also with non-living things like soil, water and air. Ecosystems often contain many living things and can be as small as your backyard or as large as the ocean.

To learn how the different types of ecosystems work…


An ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms and their environment.Many people only think of animals when they learn of ecosystems, but in reality, an ecosystem has animals, plants, and NON-living things too. Animals need to hide inside rocks and dead trees. Water is needed to drink and some animals live in the water. Air is a non-living part of an eocsystem as well -- all animals need air.

Some ecosystems provide special services for the entire world. For example, even though rainforests only cover 6% of Earth, they produce about 40% of the oxygen in the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Other ecosystems produce food, medicine, and helpful materials like rubber and lumber.

Page 1

Organisms only survive in an ecosystem when their specific needs are met.All organisms have needs, such as food, water, and air. If the needs of the organisms in the ecosystem are not met, they cannot survive.

Animals usually need food, water, and shelter. For example: if deer need to eat grass and the place they live in (their ecosystem) no longer has grass, they have to move somewhere else or risk not surviving.

A healthy ecosystem has many different kinds of organisms.When you think of an ecosystem, such as a forest, there are many organisms that are important. Trees, deer, plants, birds, squirrels, and insects are prominent members of the ecosystem. There are many more organisms that live in an ecosystem that are not as noticeable.

We often forget about all the bacteria, fungus, and tiny insects that are equally important. Ecosystems depend on many organisms to keep them in balance.

When that balance is disrupted organisms cannot thrive, and some may even die. Possible disruptions caused by humans include pollution, deforestation, land development, or removing too many resources like water. Making wise choices to protect ecosystems will help all the living things continue to live and thrive. It's important to remember that not all disruptions are caused by humans, some happen naturally.

Page 2

Newly introduced organisms can throw off the balance of an ecosystem.Another way humans impact ecosystems is by introducing invasive species. Invasive species are living things not naturally found in that ecosystem.

They upset the natural balance. Wild pigs were introduced to the United States centuries ago. Each year they cause billions of dollars of damage to crops. Wild pigs eat turkey eggs and other animals. Since they are no longer in their native environment, wild pigs do not have any natural predators, so their population is difficult to control.

In nature, an ecosystem is balanced with predator-prey relationships that keep populations from getting too high.

When invasive species are introduced three possible things can happen to existing animals. (1) The animals can adapt and stay in that ecosystem. (2) The existing animals die or (3) the animals can move somewhere else to find a new home.

Page 3

EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF ECOSYSTEMS

A small puddle can be its own ecosystem. All the organisms needed to have a well-balanced ecosystem can exist on a small scale.

Using too much fertilizer can damage ecosystems. In some cases, pesticides kill a lot more bugs than they are intended to. This means less bugs to eat for some animals. It causes a disruption in the balance of the whole ecosystem.

Ecospheres are ecosystems you can have on your desk. These mini ecosystems are completely balanced and only require a source of sunlight. They contain algae and shrimp which make food for each other.

ECOSYSTEMS VOCABULARY

EcosystemA community of interacting organisms and their environment. Living things interact with

each other, and also with non-living things like soil, water and air.

Botanist A scientist that studies plants.

NectarA sweet, sugary liquid made inside flowers. Insects and hummingbirds feed on. Bees use it

to make honey.

Page 4

Rainforest

An area densely packed with lots of different kinds of plants, tall trees and animals. Rainforests get a lot of rain (about 100 inches of rain per year). All that rain allows lots of

different plants to grow and lots of animals live near those plants. Rainforests also produce a lot of oxygen that humans breathe and scientists estimate that there are millions of

different kinds of living things still undiscovered in rainforests.

Invasive species

Living things not naturally found in that ecosystem. They usually cause damage or throw off the balance of the natural ecosystem.

Living Things Anything living such as an animal, plant, insect, bacteria, etc.

ECOSYSTEMS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

How big is an ecosystem?Ecosystems range from the size of your backyard to an entire ocean.

How do the components of Dr. Jeff’s ecosphere interact to help each other survive?In the enclosed ecosphere, the algae uses sunlight to grow. The algae is then eaten by the shrimp. The shrimp’s poop provides food for bacteria which convert the poop to nutrients that help the algae to grow. It’s a cycle!

Why would the shrimp in the ecosphere die if there was no sunlight?The shrimp in the ecosphere depend on the algae for food. If there was no sunlight, the algae would die, which leaves no food for the shrimp.

What are some of the components of a rainforest ecosystem and how do they interact?Rainforest ecosystems contain lots of plants. Plants provide food and homes for animals like birds and butterflies. Birds build nests in plants. Bugs eat leaves of plants and birds drink nectar from flowers. Some plants also make fruit which animals eat.

Page 5

Why are rainforest ecosystems important?Rainforests cover only about 6 percent of the planet but are responsible for producing about 40% of the oxygen we breathe!

What are some parts of a freshwater ecosystem?There are many examples. Some of the examples in the video include fish, crabs, shrimp, turtles, algae, plants, dead wood and rocks. All these are part of a freshwater ecosystem.

Page 6

1. What is a community of interacting organisms and their environment called?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. True or false: only living things interact in an ecosystem. _____________________________________________

3. What might an organism do if there is a change to its ecosystem?

a. Move b. Die c. Survive d. All of these

4. Why is the rainforest important?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is a living thing that is not normally found in the ecosystem called?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What makes a healthy ecosystem? ________________________________________________________________

7. True or false: the only thing plants do in an ecosystem is provide food. ________________________________

8. Which ecosystems did the team NOT explore?

a. rain forest b. freshwater c. saltwater d. desert

9. Explain how living and non-living things might interact in a saltwater ecosystem.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What size can an ecosystem be? Give some examples.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________

ECOSYSTEMS

GENIUSCHALLENGE

Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________________________



read about structure and function

Documents