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PBS Station Trainers - EekoWorld

Adaptation Relay

To highlight how animals and plants adapt to their surroundings to survive, teachers participated in an "Adaptation Relay." Five teams formed a line and ran toward a team member holding a bucket of activities that the other members of the team had to complete--without using their thumbs. Each person donned a pair of "thumbless" gloves and tried to button a shirt, write his or her name, tie a knot and other similar tasks. Not only did it help people understand how animals can survive only by learning to adapt to new environments, but it made everyone aware of how vital an appendage a thumb really is!

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Instructions:

Place the following items in 4 or 5 buckets (see the Materials List as well):

• A container of beans
• a film canister
• 3 pieces of paper
• a box of crayons
• a bandana
• a large shirt with buttons
• scissors
• clothespin
• small ball
• plastic bottle with cap on

In each bucket, put index cards that have the following instructions (one instruction per card):

Count three beans from the container and place them in the film canister. Put the cap on.

With paper and crayon, write your full name and the name of your school.

Tie a knot in the bandana and then untie it.

Put on the shirt. Button two buttons. Unbutton them and take off the shirt.

Cut a circle out of a piece of paper.

Pin the clothespin onto your collar. Now remove it.

Toss the ball to the next person in line and have them throw it back.

Screw the cap off of the bottle and then screw it back on.

Draw a fish on the paper circle.

Gather all of the items and place them in the bin, then go back to your group and have the all sit down.