Harcourt 10-11
Theme 3
Whole Group
Lesson 11
Day 4
predators
mimic
traits
obvious
lure
resembles
avoid
deceptive
If a polar bear was black, why
would it be obvious?
It would be
obvious that a
polar bear was
black because its
fur would be
black in color and
it would stand
out against the
white snow.
How does it help some harmless
insects to resemble wasps?
It helps to resemble
a wasp because their
predators are afraid
of wasps. Therefore,
their predators will
leave them alone
because they are
fearful of wasps.
When an alligator snapping turtle
lures a fish, what does it mimic?
The alligator
snapping turtle is
able to mimic a
worm with its
tongue and lure a
fish right into its
mouth.
How can color help prey avoid
becoming dinner?
Color can help animals and insects blend into their
surroundings. This helps them to hide from their
predators and avoid being eaten for dinner.
How does camouflage help a
predator?
The predator can blend in with its
surroundings, so it is able to sneak
up on its prey a lot easier.
How can some fireflies’ traits be
deceptive?
Photuris fireflies
can mimic the
correct female
flashing pattern
response to the
males in order to
attract them and
eat them for
dinner.
Focus Skill:
Cause:
Effect:
The reason that
something happens.
What happens as a
result of the cause.
because
if
therefore
then
since
so that
as a result
when
Using Cause and Effect
Cause:
Effect:
It looks like stones
scattered on the desert
floor.
The pebble plant is able to
escape its enemies.
Cause:
Effect:
The anglerfish has one fin
that looks like a worm.
Some fish go to eat what
they think is a worm, and
they are eaten by the
anglerfish.
Many animals are protected by mimicry or
camouflage. The poplar hawk moth has wings
that look like the leaves of a tree. As a result, it
can hide in trees. The squash vine borer moth
looks like a wasp. This makes predators stay
away because they do not like wasps. The
arctic fox changes color with the seasons. The
arctic fox’s fur is gray-brown. Because of this,
it can blend in with its summer habitat. As
winter approaches, the arctic fox turns white. It
can then hide in the snow to escape predators.
What are the cause-and-effect
clue words?
Using Cause and Effect
Cause:
Effect:
The poplar hawk moth’s
wings look like the leaves
of a tree.
The moth can hide in the
trees.
Cause:
Effect:
The squash vine borer
moth looks like a wasp.
Predators stay away from
it.
Cause:
Effect:
The arctic fox’s fur is
gray-brown.
The arctic fox can blend in
with its summer habitat.
Douglas Florian
Why does the glass frog keep losing
itself?
How do the animals in these poems
adapt to their environments?
Why does the poet
call the chameleon
a comedian?
What are some
ways people adapt
to their
environment?