MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Use this information on a location in Utah to answer the question.

Temperature Range	Elevation	Rainfall
68-96°F	3,000-4,500 feet	Below 5 in.

Which animal might be found living there?

a. bear

b. moose

c. tortoise

d. seagull

Correct Answer: c

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Which environment would have the most coniferous (pine) trees?

a. desert

b. grasslands

c. wetland

d. forest

Correct Answer: d

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Which plant would most likely be found in a desert area of Utah?

a. cottonwood tree

b. cactus

c. cattail

d. blue spruce

Correct Answer: b

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Why do hummingbirds live in grasslands and forests? Hummingbirds need

a. high elevation so they can fly easier

b. to drink the nectar from flowers found there

c. the insects found in the grasses

d. many rocks to hide from predators

Correct Answer: b

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Which beak would best be adapted for eating small animals?

Correct Answer: c

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Which of the following help a rattlesnake get food?

a. long legs to run fast

b. poisonous bite

c. scaly skin

d. being cold blooded

Correct Answer: b

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Which of the following best explains why a porcupine is found in a forest? Porcupines

a. eat bark and needles on coniferous trees

b. have small, round ears

c. have sharp quills to defend themselves

d. live in rock homes

Correct Answer: a

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

How do beavers change the environment they live in?

a. They swim in the water behind their dam.

b. Their dam prevents water from rushing downstream.

c. They chase other animals away that eat fish.

d. The tail provides warning for other animals.

Correct Answer: b

MC	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Tyler is looking for information about the animals found in a forest. Which book would help him the most?

a. Amazing Animal Antics

b. Animal Babies

c. Endangered Animals

d. Mountain Animals

Correct Answer: d

E	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Tell three ways each of the following animals interact with their environment.

Example: bear eats berries

1. Deer a.

b.

c.

2. Snake a.

b.

c.

3. Beaver a.

b.

c.

Possible Answers:

1. Deer a. eats shrubs

b. runs away from mountain lion

c. sleeps in the shelter of a tree

2. Snake a. eats mice

b. slithers away from hawks

c. uses plants for camouflage

3. Beaver a. hides from bears

b. makes a dam to create a pond

c. cuts trees for a shelter

E	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

List 3 ways squirrels interact with the tree they live in.

Correct Answer:

A tree provides food for the squirrel, shelter for it to live in, and protection from enemies.

E	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

How does the tree benefit from the squirrel?

Correct Answer:

The squirrel helps the tree by scattering seeds through the forest.

E	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

How does the elevation affect which trees will grow on a mountain?

Correct Answer:

A higher elevation will cause the temperature to be colder and more rain or snow to fall. Conifers and pines will grow in colder areas, deciduous in more temperate areas.

E	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Write the names of these animals under the environment they would most likely be found:

Jackrabbit, frog, moose, tortoise, elk, grey squirrel, rattlesnake, blue jay, roadrunner

Correct Answers:

Desert: jackrabbit, tortoise, rattlesnake, roadrunner

Forest: frog, moose, elk, grey squirrel, blue jay

E	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

How is a mountain lion's body adapted to the food it eats?

Correct Answer:

They have sharp claws and teeth to kill and eat their prey. They have strong legs to leap and run after the things they eat.

P	4^th Grade	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.
ILO:

Plant Adaptations

Activity Description:

Students will examine several plants from two different environments and compare the differences.

Materials Needed:

1 copy of the worksheet per student, several plants found in a desert and several plants from a wetlands or forest (try to get a whole plant, including roots, etc.)

Prior to Assessment:

Students should have learned the four Utah environments, and discussed that plants are different because of the amount of water available, type of soil, etc.

Time Needed For Assessment:

1 class period

Procedure:

1.  Have students brainstorm together types of plants that live in a desert, a wetland or a forest, depending on which you have.  Have them fill the names in on the worksheet.

2.  Discuss differences in the plants because of the amount of rainfall and temperatures. 

3.  Share plants with students and let them examine the parts of the plant, such as roots, leaves, stems, etc.

4.  Students will complete the chart with their observations.

5.  Students will summarize what they have found out about plant adaptations.

Scoring Guide:

(1 point for each)

5 points for each plant that is classified and the row completed on the worksheet.

5 points for the conclusion:

1 point for each of the following: 

Differences in roots                         

Differences in leaves

Differences in size of plant              

Similarities between plants

Student Page

Name___________________________________________________________

Introduction: 

In this activity you will compare plants that live in two different Utah ecosystems.

Directions:

1.  Look at the plants provided and record your observations in the tables below.  Write above each table which ecosystem those plants are from.

2.  Move from one plant to another as your teacher directs.   Look carefully at each plant. 

3.  Answer the questions.

___________ Plants

Plant Name

Color

Shape

Leaf Size

Root

Unusual Features

___________ Plants

Plant Name

Color

Shape

Leaf Size

Root

Unusual Features

Write a sentence about each of the following: 

1.  Differences in the roots:

2.  Differences in the leaves:

3.  Differences in the plant size:

4.  Things that are the same in each plant:

5.  Why are the plants different?