What is a generation?
A generation is all the people born around the same time. Think of your grandparents—they're one generation. Your parents are another, and you and your friends are a new one! Generally, one generation is about 20 to 30 years.
What is heredity?
Heredity is why you're a bit like your parents! It's how special traits, like eye color or curly hair, get passed down from grown-ups to their children. Think of it like a secret recipe from your family that makes you unique! It's why siblings often look alike too.
What is a trait?
A trait is a special feature or characteristic that makes you unique! ✨ It can be something you see, like your eye color or if your hair is straight or curly. It can also be things animals have, like a tiger's stripes or a bird's feathers. Some traits are passed down from your parents, while other traits come from interactions with the environment.
What is an inherited trait?
An inherited trait is a special feature you get from your parents! Think of it like a gift they passed down to you. Things like the color of your eyes, if your hair is curly, or even how tall you might grow are all inherited traits. You're a mix of both your mom and dad!
What is a trait that results from the environment?
Some traits come from how we interact with the world around us! For example, if a plant doesn't get enough sunlight or water, it might not grow as tall as it could. Or, if a puppy eats too many treats and doesn't play much, it might get chubby. These are traits shaped by the environment!
What is a species?
A species is a group of living things that are very similar and can have babies together. Think of all the different kinds of dogs—they're all one species! But a dog and a cat are different species because they can't have puppies or kittens together.
What are prey?
Prey are animals that other animals hunt and eat for food. They're often smaller and faster to try and escape! Think of a mouse being hunted by an owl, or a fish being caught by a bear. The mouse and the fish are the prey.
What are predators?
Predators are animals that hunt and eat other animals for food. They're often strong and have special ways to catch their prey, like sharp claws or keen eyesight. Think of a lion hunting a zebra, or an eagle swooping down to catch a fish. The lion and the eagle are the predators!
What is camouflage?
Camouflage is a trick animals use to hide! It's when an animal's colors or patterns help the animal blend in with its surroundings, so it's hard to see. Think of a chameleon changing its skin to match a leaf, or a polar bear blending in with the snow. Camouflage helps animals hide from predators or sneak up on prey!
What is natural selection?
Natural selection is like nature's way of choosing the best players! If an animal has a trait that helps it live better in its home, like a strong beak to crack nuts, that animal will likely survive and have babies. Those babies will also have strong beaks, helping them thrive too! Natural selection is how animals slowly change over a long, long time.
Some traits animals get from their parents help them survive in the area where they live. Other of these traits lead to problems for that animal. However, when the environment changes, some traits that in the past were a problem now become useful. Your challenge is to find out how the environment and inherited traits can affect the survival of some animals.
