Morning Starters: Autumn 2 - Evolving & Adapting
Did You Know?
When Charles Darwin visited the Galápagos Islands in 1859, he noticed that some giant tortoises looked slightly different to each other. On islands where tortoises ate plants close to the ground, the reptiles had rounded shells. On islands where tortoises needed to stretch their necks to eat tall shrubs, the reptiles had shells that bent upwards at the front. Observing adaptations like this helped Darwin develop his theory of evolution.
Credit: BBC NEWS
Word Challenge
Compile a list of words that have a similar meaning to the word ‘adapt.’
Grammar Challenge
Rewrite the sentence below, adding a relative clause.
The giant tortoise extended its wrinkled neck.
e.g. The giant tortoise, which was 150 years old, extended its wrinked neck.
Number Challenge
- The Seychelles giant tortoise has an average life expectancy of 150 years.
Record the factors of 150.
Note: Factors are numbers that will divide into a whole number with no remainder.
Critical Thinking
If a giant tortoise became a carnivore, how might its appearance change.
Describe in words or draw your thoughts.