Gina Oles ICE5 GPS LAB Individual Project Summer, 2009 GPS RELAY RACE BACKGROUND: Animal adaptations are any body shape, color, process, or behavior that allows an organism to survive in its environment. Animals change over time to fit the needs of their environment. If an environment is changed, animals and plants within the area need to change or adapt in order to survive. If animals don t adapt, they are eaten or starve, and the species will become extinct. Animals that are similar will adapt in different ways according to the environment in which they live. Natural selection is the process by which organisms best suited to the environment survive and reproduce by passing their genes to the next generation. Sudden major changes in environments can cause serious problems for animals because they are not able to adapt quickly enough. Insects and other organisms depend on dead plant and animal material for food. In any environment that changes, some plants and animals will adapt and survive; other plants and animals will not. Many animals have developed ways to defend themselves against predators. Animals react in different ways when predators are around; for example, herds of animals often run in all directions to confuse predators. Some animals hide when danger is present. Some animals have keen hearing, eyesight, or sense of smell so they can detect danger and escape. Other animals have horns or antlers to fight off predators. Some animals are nocturnal (active only at night) so it is harder for predators to locate them. Many animals have physical characteristics that help to keep them safe. Camouflage is a form of adaptation that protects animals by allowing them to blend into their surroundings. When an animal is camouflaged, it is hard for predators to find them. Some animals are poisonous or unpleasant-tasting. Predators soon learn to leave such animals alone. Poisonous animals are often brightly colored, which signals a warning to predators. Other animals are brightly colored to look like similar poisonous animals. This also serves as protection as many predators will stay away from the warning
colors. Some animals such as a skunk, use chemicals that they spray from their body to deter predators. Englehart, Deirdre (2004). Write About Life Science: The Test Connection, Grades 3-5. McGraw Hill Children s Publishing. TIMELINE: This activity is designed as a one-day evaluation following a unit on Adaption, specifically camouflage. Prior to the GPS relay race, background material will need to be covered in the classroom. Teacher preparation is also required in setting up waypoints on the GPS units. This relay race is designed to have two teams requiring two GPS units. However, the design can be changed to involve more teams which would also require additional GPS units. GLOSSARY: camouflage using primarily color, but sometimes shape, animals blend in with their environment. Example: deer, walking stick, zebra adaptation anything that helps an organism survive in its environment. startling or frightening coloration the organism typically has hidden eyespots that it may flash at a predator thereby surprising the predator. The prey gets a head start on escaping as the predator hesitates before attacking. Example: cecropia moth noxious chemicals organisms either make their own noxious chemicals or obtain and store chemicals from their diets. In any event, the organisms taste bad and can sometimes spray or slowly release these noxious chemicals on potential predators. Example: blister beetles, skunks warning coloration Some combination of the colors black, white, red and yellow which indicate the organism can either sting, bite or is otherwise harmful Example: coral snake, bee behavior the way in which a living things acts natural selection process by which organisms best suited to the environment survive and reproduce by passing their genes to the next generation. prey an animal that is hunted or caught for food predator an animal that lives by preying on other animals GPS Global Position System handheld device that helps you map to different points
waypoint -- the place where each clue will be set; your GPS unit should beep when you are close to this point MANAGEMENT ISSUES: Prior to activity, program GPS units with needed waypoints. Notify custodian and school office the day prior to the activity that you will be taking your class outside. Confirm with custodian that no grounds work will conflict with your outdoor activity. If necessary, arrange to have parent volunteers available to assist with student supervision. Make sure to have copies of answer keys and routes for each parent volunteer and yourself. Alert children day before activity that we will be outside and to dress appropriately. Prepare 12 envelopes which should contain a question relating to the adaptation unit, a word list and optional longitude and latitude page. Password should be written on outside of envelope. (Follow STUDENT ENVELOPE GPS QUESTIONS AND PASSWORD)
GPS Activity Directions 1. Teacher should divide the students into two teams: purple and green. DO NOT tell the students which team they are on. 2. Select two students from each team to begin the relay race. Have them wait at the starting line. Give these students the beginning envelope for each team. 3. Position students in groups of two at the various waypoints. 4. Give each student pair an envelope with the password written on the outside and the clue sealed inside. The password is the answer to the question that the previous group received. The correct password must be given to each team before the GPS unit can be passed on. 5. If the password given is not correct, then the team will need to choose another answer from the word bank and proceed to the assigned waypoint. 6. Once the correct password is given, the GPS unit will be passed. The team will then open their envelope which contains their question/clue and next waypoint. 7. The last group will arrive at the same waypoint (the finish line) and the correct password will be given to the teacher/parent volunteer who is positioned at this point. (OPTIONAL SHEET TO INCLUDE IN ENVELOPE) Current Waypoint Elevation Latitude Longitude Answer to Question Next waypoint # Current Waypoint Elevation Latitude Longitude
Current Waypoint Elevation Latitude Longitude Current Waypoint Elevation Latitude Longitude
KEY FOR CME RELAY CME 205 CME 111 CME025 CME222 CME708 CME389 CME 523 CME 456 CME347 CME017 CME644 CME389 STUDENT ENVELOPE GPS QUESTIONS AND PASSWORD PURPLE GROUP KEY Waypoint Question/Clue Password to be written on outside of envelope CME205 What do you call anything that helps an organism survive in its environment? CME111 CME025 adaptation (waypoint 111) What animal uses warning coloration to protect itself from predators? coral snake (waypoint 025) The colors black, white, red and are used as warning coloration which indicate the organism can either sting, bite or is otherwise harmful. ADAPTATION CORAL SNAKE CME 222 yellow (waypoint 222) T or F If animals don t adapt, they are eaten or starve, and the species will become extinct. YELLOW True (Waypoint 707)
CME707 CME389 What do we call an animal that lives by preying on other animals? predator (waypoint 389) What type of adaptation deals primarily with color, but sometimes shape. It happens when animals blend in with their environment? TRUE PREDATOR Camouflage Last Runner Password given to Mrs. Oles or parent volunteer: CAMOUFLAGE
STUDENT ENVELOPE GPS QUESTIONS AND PASSWORD GREEN GROUP KEY Waypoint Question/Clue Password to be written on outside of envelope CME523 CME456 What do we call the way in which a living thing acts? behavior (waypoint 456) What animal uses noxious chemicals to protect itself from predators? BEHAVIOR CME347 CME017 CME644 CME389 skunk (waypoint 347) What animal uses startling or frightening coloration to protect itself from predators? cecropia moth (waypoint 017) What do we call an animal that is hunted or caught for food? prey (waypoint 644) What is the process by which organisms best suited to the environment survive and reproduce by passing their genes to the next generation? natural selection (waypoint 389) What do we call the type of adaptation when an organism typically has hidden eyespots that it may flash at a predator thereby surprising the predator. startling or frightening coloration Last runner SKUNK CRECROPIA MOTH PREY NATURAL SELECTION
Password given to Mrs. Oles or parent volunteer: STARTLING OR FRIGHTENING COLORATION
QUESTION BANK 1. What type of adaptation deals primarily with color, but sometimes shape. It happens when animals blend in with their environment? camouflage (waypoint 904) 2. What do you call anything that helps an organism survive in its environment? adaptation (waypoint 111) 3. What do we call the type of adaptation when an organism typically has hidden eyespots that it may flash at a predator thereby surprising the predator. startling or frightening coloration (waypoint 905) 4. What do we call the way in which a living thing acts? behavior (waypoint 456) 5. What do we call an animal that is hunted or caught for food? prey (waypoint 644) 6. What do we call an animal that lives by preying on other animals? predator (waypoint 389) 7. What animal uses noxious chemicals to protect itself from predators? skunk (waypoint 347) 8. What animal uses startling or frightening coloration to protect itself? cecropia moth (waypoint 017)
9. What animal uses warning coloration to protect itself from predators? coral snake (waypoint 025) 10. The colors black, white, red and are used as warning coloration which indicate the organism can either sting, bite or is otherwise harmful. yellow (waypoint 222) 11. What is the process by which organisms best suited to the environment survive and reproduce by passing their genes to the next generation. natural selection (waypoint 389) 12. T or F If animals don t adapt, they are eaten or starve, and the species will become extinct. True (waypoint 707)
WORD BANK Not every word will be used (THIS LIST SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN EACH ENVELOPE) Adaption Waypoint 111 Behavior Waypoint 456 Blue Waypoint 093 Camouflage Waypoint 904 Cecropia Moth Waypoint 017 Coral snake Waypoint 025 False Waypoint 010 Waypoint 262 Mimic Waypoint 316 Natural Selection Waypoint 389 Plants Waypoint 234 Predator Waypoint 389 Prey Waypoint 644 Skunk Waypoint 347 Startling/Frightening Coloration Waypoint 905 True Waypoint 707 Warning Waypoint 565 Yellow Waypoint 025
STUDENT ENVELOPE GPS QUESTIONS PURPLE GROUP (To be cut and put in the waypoint envelopes) Waypoint CME205 CME111 CME025 Question/Clue What do you call anything that helps an organism survive in its environment? What animal uses warning coloration to protect itself from predators? The colors black, white, red and are used as warning coloration which indicate the organism can either sting, bite or is otherwise harmful. CME 222 CME707 CME389 T or F If animals don t adapt, they are eaten or starve, and the species will become extinct. What do we call an animal that lives by preying on other animals? What type of adaptation deals primarily with color, but sometimes shape. It happens when animals blend in with their environment?
STUDENT ENVELOPE GPS QUESTIONS GREEN GROUP (To be cut and put in the waypoint envelopes) Waypoint CME523 CME456 CME347 CME017 CME644 CME389 Question/Clue What do we call the way in which a living thing acts? What animal uses noxious chemicals to protect itself from predators? What animal uses startling or frightening coloration to protect itself from predators? What do we call an animal that is hunted or caught for food? What is the process by which organisms best suited to the environment survive and reproduce by passing their genes to the next generation? What do we call the type of adaptation when an organism typically has hidden eyespots that it may flash at a predator thereby surprising the predator.