Systems and Survival Study Guide
Please use your science packet, glossary, and notes to study for your test on Friday,
November 8.
Vocabulary: Familiarize yourself with these words and why these words are important to
animals. These words can be found on page 45 in your student journal.
inherited traits
learned behavior
behavioral characteristic
physical characteristic
invertebrate
vertebrate
warm-blooded
cold-blooded
camouflage
extinction
Classification of Organisms:
1. Understand that organisms are classified or grouped by their characteristics. Use your
Animal Classification Glossary on page 50 of your science journal to help you complete
the following information.
A. Make bullet points of the basic characteristics of the following taxa for animals:
amphibians, annelids, arthropods, birds, echinoderms, fish, mammals, mollusks,
and reptiles.
Example: Mammals: fur, give live birth, warm blooded, vertebrate
2. Organisms have Physical Characteristics which help them survive. These body
structures help the organism in its environment. These are inherited or passed from
parent to offspring. (feathers, vertebrate/invertebrate, hollow bones, fur, etc…)
A. Write down 4 animals and examples of their physical characteristics.
Example: Birds: feathers, hollow bones, vertebrate, egg laying, warm-blooded
3. Know the physical characteristics of an animal of your choice. Write down the animal
and how these physical characteristics help it survive. Refer to page 6-7 in your student
journal.
4. Behavioral Characteristics: Organisms have ways of acting or behaving which help
them to survive. Understand the difference between learned behavior and instinctive
behavior. Use the animal fact handout that we did in class to help you.
A. Some behaviors are Instincts- the animal is born knowing how to do it,
Example: a bird flying South for the winter or fish swimming upstream to spawn.
List 4 animals and an example of their instinctual behavior.
B. Some behaviors can be learned – instruction needs to take place in order for this to
happen.
Example: a dog learning to fetch a Frisbee, or a child learning to play soccer.
List 4 animals and their learned behavior.
5. Know the behavioral characteristics of an animal of your choice. Please choose the
same animal as you did for question #3 and write down how the behavioral
characteristics of the animal. Refer to page 6-7 in your student journal.
6. Catastophic Events and Climate Change: Understand how an environmental change
could lead to the endangerment or extinction of plants and animals. Refer to page 31-32
in your student journal.
Examples: Tsunami, volcano, flood
When a volcano erupts, what happens to plants and animals?
Ice Age—What happens to plants and animals when a climate change such as an ice
age occur?