# Adaptations Challenge

Teams investigate structural and behavioural adaptations and then design a fictional organism perfectly adapted to a habitat of their choice. Seven inquiry-based digital lessons, guided by the Australian Curriculum biological sciences strand.

## Year levels

Years 5–6

## Duration

7 lessons (~45 min each)

## Submissions

Each school term

## What students do

Students build their understanding of adaptations through a mix of digital lessons, gameplay, team investigation, and design.

- Explore how living things survive through structural and behavioural adaptations
- Play Arludo games to experience how structural and behavioural adaptations impact survival
- Analyse real gameplay data to identify patterns and understand what worked (and what didn’t)
- Work in teams to research real animals and how they are adapted to their environments
- Apply their learning to design a fictional ‘super adapted’ organism suited to a habitat of their choosing
- Present their ideas in a challenge slide deck
- Submit the team creation to the Arludo Adaptations Challenge website (optional)

## The science behind it

The Adaptations Challenge gives students a practical way to explore how structural and behavioural adaptations help living things survive in different environments.

- Year 5: AC9S5U01 examine how particular structural features and behaviours of living things enable their survival in specific habitats
- Year 6: AC9S6U01 investigate the physical conditions of a habitat and analyse how the growth and survival of living things is affected by changing physical conditions

The challenge develops scientific thinking skills including data literacy, evidence-based reasoning, and scientific communication.

## How the Adaptations Challenge Works

1. **Investigate**  
   Students explore structural and behavioural adaptations through gameplay, data, and team investigation, building an understanding of how living things survive in different environments.

2. **Design**  
   Teams design a fictional organism for a chosen habitat, applying their learning to develop structural and behavioural adaptations that support survival.

3. **Submit (optional)**  
   Submit the team’s design to be featured on the Arludo Adaptations Challenge website. Submission is optional - participation is the goal.

## Curriculum Aligned to Years 5–6

The Adaptations Challenge maps directly to the Australian Curriculum v9 Science strand for Years 5 and 6, with additional alignment to the NSW Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus.

- AC9S5U01 examine how particular structural features and behaviours of living things enable their survival in specific habitats
- AC9S6U01 investigate the physical conditions of a habitat and analyse how the growth and survival of living things is affected by changing physical conditions
- Science Inquiry: questioning, data collection, analysis, and communication
- NSW Stage 3 Science and Technology alignment

## Australian Curriculum and NSW Syllabus Links

### YEARS 5 & 6 SCIENCE UNDERSTANDING
- AC9S5U01 examine how particular structural features and behaviours of living things enable their survival in specific habitats.
- AC9S6U01 investigate the physical conditions of a habitat and analyse how the growth and survival of living things is affected by changing physical conditions.

### YEARS 5 & 6 SCIENCE INQUIRY
- AC9S5I01/AC9S6I01 pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions.
- AC9S5I03/AC9S6I03 use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate.
- AC9S5I04/AC9S6I04 construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and describe patterns, trends and relationships.
- AC9S5I05/AC9S6I05 compare methods and findings with those of others, recognise possible sources of error, pose questions for further investigation and select evidence to draw reasoned conclusions.
- AC9S5I06/AC9S6I06 write and create texts to communicate ideas and findings for specific purposes and audiences, including selection of language features, using digital tools as appropriate.

## The Adaptations Challenge Is 100% Free

- **7 Digital Lessons**  
  Inquiry-based, browser-accessible, no student accounts required
- **Detailed Lesson Plans**  
  Emailed on registration — everything you need to run each lesson
- **Adaptations Challenge Slides**  
  Template for teams to document their fictional organism design (available as PowerPoint or Google Slides)

## What teachers and parents ask us

- What year levels is this challenge for?+
- Do teams need to submit a fictional organism?+
- What types of submissions are accepted?+
- How are submissions judged?+
- When are submissions due?+
- What support do you provide educators after they register?+