What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a physical trait or behavior that allows an animal to survive in its particular habitat.
     1.   It is instinctive, not learned, and it is passed on from parents to offspring.
     2.   It helps the animal do something better (like catch prey or hide from predators) and increases its ability to survive and have babies.   

These changes or adaptations take many generations to develop — hundreds, thousands or even millions of years!

Adaptations are the result of natural selection. Natural selection works by allowing only the animals that are most fit to survive (“survival of the fittest”).

The result is evolution!

In this class, students will —

1. Learn how organisms in Florida’s many diverse habitats — from tiny macroinvertebrates to large mammals — have adapted, evolved and survived for millions of years.

2. Participate in many active hands-on, brains-on activities and two possible field trips.

3. Use new digital microscopes, binoculars and other exciting tools of scientific discovery.

4. Study some of nature's most intelligent creatures.

5. Learn about Charles Darwin and the exciting work that led to his Theory of Natural Selection.

6. Dabble in science fiction as they imagine and create human and non-human animals with adaptations that enable them to survive in a future world.

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Gifted and Talented Program

The Wild Classroom