An illustration with two owls with bold black text above reading "Can animals adapt to climate change?"

Can Wildlife Adapt to Climate Change?

Overview

With rising temperatures and seas, massive droughts, and changing landscapes, successfully adapting to climate change is increasingly important. For humans, this can mean using technology to find solutions. But for some plants and animals, adapting to these changes involves the most ancient solution of all: evolution. Erin Eastwood explains how animals are adapting to climate change.

Activity Type:

Video

Target Grade Level:

K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Estimated Duration:

5 minutes

Topics:

Climate 101

Possible Connections to NGSS

Performance Expectations

K-ESS3-3: Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.

1-LS3-1: Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.

2-LS4-1: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.

3-LS3-2: Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.

4-LS1-1: Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

5-ESS3-1: Combine and obtain information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect Earth’s resources and environment.