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[Year 5] Science - Adapting to Australian Habitats: Animal Adaptation

Animal Adaptation

Animal Adaptations for Kids

Animal Camouflage | Learn How Animals Can Blend in With Their Environments

My habitat, my home - Wildlife in Redland City, QLD

Chris Humfrey's Wild Action | Watch Episodes on ABC iView

Take a walk on the wild side with Zoologist Chris Humfrey as he delves into the fascinating world of Australian wildlife. Learn about each animals classification, adaptations, habitats, ecological niche and fun facts. Click here to watch episodes on ABC iView. 
Ep. 1 - Southern Koala 
Ep. 2 - Giant Burrowing Cockroach 
Ep. 3 - Laughing Kookaburra  
Ep. 4 - Lace Monitor
Ep. 5 - Grey-headed Flying Fox
Ep. 6 - Flinder Rangers Scorpian
Ep. 7 - Lowland Copperhead 
Ep. 8 - Western Grey Kangaroo 
Ep. 9 - Rough-throated Leaf-tailed Gecko 
Ep. 10 - Little Penguin
Ep. 11 - Giant Scrub Millipedes

Ep. 12 - Giant Centipede
Ep. 13 - Barn Owl
Ep. 14 - Saltwater Crocodile 
Ep. 15 - Green Tree Frog
Ep. 16 - Short-beaked Echidna 
Ep. 17 - Mountain Pygmy Possum
Ep. 18 - Earthworms 
Ep. 19 - Gang-gang Cuckatoo
Ep. 20 - Common Yabby
Ep. 21 - Shingleback Lizard 
Ep. 22 - Jungle Carpet Python

Types of Adaptations

How do native Australian animals survive Australia's harsh environment? | Ask An Expert | Curtain University

Adaptation (Rapid Speciation) | Answers in Genesis (Short Video)

Built to Survive | Watch Series on ABC iView

Phil Breslin draws on the knowledge of science, First Nations peoples and his own experience in the wild, to find out how animals have adapted to some of the world's most extreme and diverse, natural habitats. Click here to watch episodes on ABC iView. 
Ep. 1 - Wet and Wild Rainforests 
Ep. 2 - Desert Dwellers 
Ep. 3 - Wild Wild Wetlands 
Ep. 4 - Coastal Critters
Ep. 5 - Mud and Mangroves
Ep. 6 - Big Blue Ocean
Ep. 7 - Island Castaways 
Ep. 8 - Savannah Survivors 
Ep. 9 - Rivers of Life 
Ep. 10 - Woodland Wanderers

The Wonder of Marsupials | Watch Episodes on ABC iView

From Australia's scorching desert heart to pristine rainforests in the north, we'll meet the biggest and the smallest marsupials, the rarest and the most successful as we journey to see the Wonder of Marsupials. NOTE: This series does assume an Evolutionary premise - just something to keep in mind while watching. 
Click here to watch episodes on ABC iView. 
3 Episodes

More Resources

 

Endangered Species (Encyclopedia Britannica School - Elementary) - you can access this webpage at school only. 

Adaptation (Encyclopedia Britannica School - Elementary) - you can access this webpage at school only. 

Camouflage (National Geographic Education - Encyclopedia). 

Adaptation and Survival (National Geographic Education - Article) - ideal as a teacher resource and more confident readers.

Protective coloration (Camouflage) (Encyclopedia Britannica School - Elementary) - you can access this webpage at school only. 

Wildlife Populations - Adaptations: Camouflage (Wildlife Encounters) - from Wildlife Medical Clinic, College of Veterinary Medicine (University of Illinois. 

 

Australia's Wild Odyssey: How are animals suited to their environment? (ABC Education, 2023) - short video. 

Australia's Wild Odyssey: Being at the top of the food chain (ABC Education, 2023) - short video.

 

The Platypus Guardian: The ancient animal's characteristics (ABC Education, 2023) - short video. 

The Platypus Guardian: Waterbugs (ABC Education, 2023) - short video. 

The Platypus Guardian: Baby platypuses (ABC Education, 2023) - short video. 

 

Our Animals (ABC Education, 2023) - short videos and transcripts - how Australian survive in the wild. 

Our Animals: Spider habitat (ABC Education, 2023) - short video. 

 

Catalyst: Are we killing our Koalas? (ABC Education, 2022) - short video. 

 

Many of our plants and animals have adapted to fires, but now the fires are changing (Brack, 2020) - article from The Conversation or also available from the Australian National University webpage here. 

Are Adaptions Evidence for Evolution? (Answers in Genesis Kids, 2016). 

Staying alive (Answers in Genesis Kids, 2022). 

How God-Given Adaptability Helped Crows and Ravens Take Over the World (Ham, 2022) - Answers in Genesis article. 

Adaptation and Ecology: The Marvelous Fit of Organisms to Their Environments (Parker, 2016) - article in Answers in Genesis. 

How Do Animals Become Resistant to Poisons? (Creation Magazine, 1980) - article from Answers in Genesis. 

Life: Designed by God to Adapt (Lightner, 2008) - article from Answers in Genesis. 

Does Global Warming Threaten Bird Habitats? (Johnson, 2019) - article from Institute for Creation Research (great as a teacher resource and for more confident readers). 

Survival of the Fitted: God's Providential Programming (Johnson, 2010) - article from Institute for Creation Research (great as a teacher resource and for more confident readers). 

 

Animal Adaptation Games: Hidden in Plain Sight (Seeing through Camouflage) - NOVA Online. 

Arctic Animal Discovery (Bering Land Bridge: National Preserve Alaska) - find the animals on the landscape to learn more about their adaptations. 

Ocean Creature Feature (Ology) - American Museum of Natural History - interactive activity to learn more about ocean creatures and their adaptations to survive their ecosystems. 

Adaptation Vocabulary Quiz (Java Games). 

Creaturepedia Game (Wild Kratts - PBS Kids).

Wild Kratts PBS Kids Games.