1. Living Systems
Investigation 4, Part 2 –
Attention

2. Colors in Nature Which senses did you use in the falling-cup activity?
Let's explore vision.
What are some brightly colored plants or animals that live in the natural environment?
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 1

3. Attention Action Card
Your challenge is to design an organism to attract the attention of a specific student. You will fill out your card and another student will create the organism that matches your description.
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 2

4. Focus Question What feature of organisms attract attention?
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 3

5. Go outdoors Materials to take outdoors: index cards scissors
colored pens and pencils
Go to the habitat listed on the Attention Action Card you receive. Draw an organism on an index card that matches the card's description. Do not reveal the name of the student who wrote the description.
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
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6. Attention-Getting Features
Glue your own action card and the index card drawing that was created for you in your notebook. Which designs were the most effective attention-getters? What made the designs effective? In the real world, what are some aspects of various organisms that grab your attention? What plant or animal has features or behaviors other than color and pattern to attract or warn others?
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 11

7. Adaptation
Colors and other attention-catching features of organisms are adaptations. An adaptation is a structure, feature, or behavior that helps an organism survive and/or reproduce.
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 12

8. Reading in Science Resources
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Steps 13–15

9. Reading in Science Resources
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 16

10. Sense-Making Discussion
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 17

11. Vocabulary Review
adaptation a structure, feature, or behavior that helps an organism survive and/or reproduce
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 18

12. Focus Question What features of organisms attract attention?
Discuss the focus question in your group and then answer on your own.
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 19

13. Response Sheet
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 20

14. Wrap-Up/Warm-Up What features of organisms attract attention?
Pair up with a partner to
share your answers to the focus question;
discuss specific examples of animals and their attraction features.
Living Systems, 4.2: Attention
Step 19

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Living Systems, 4.2: Attention