Plant and Animal Structures - 4th Grade Science

Animal structures, both internal and external, are essential features to keep animals alive. Jacob is correct in this argument. Animals have both types of structures to help them survive. Animals like the elephant have trunks that they use as a tool to grab food or spray water and internally they lungs, hearts, and other organs that keep them alive. Without both sets of structures, animals would not be able to live.

Owls are excellent hunters and have unique structures that allow them to excel. They have keen eyesight, a sharp beak, and sharp talons on their toes. They hunt at dusk and night when there is low light, and their eyes are suited to see well in the setting. Owls will swoop down on small mammals in the grass and grab them with their sharp talons. Their beaks are sharp and pointed to eat meat. They are built to hunt and are a top predator in their environments.

All of the answer choices are arguments for giraffes being survivors in their habitats, but only one correctly explains why internal or external structures assist them. "Giraffes have features like spots and long necks. The dark spots on a giraffe's body hide an intricate network of blood vessels and glands. These dark patches allow blood to flow through them, releasing heat and cooling the body. A giraffe's long neck helps them reach leaves far up in the treetops where other animals cannot reach. The tallest trees usually have the deepest roots and can reach water in the soil that other trees cannot, so the long neck allows giraffes to reach food sources that last through extended droughts." The structures highlighted in this answer choice are spots and long necks, which are both external features. The choice explains why the spots and long necks are an advantage for the giraffe. This argument includes the necessary information, is accurate, and focuses on the animal structures.

Animals have internal and external structures that help them to survive. Their coats are an example of these types of structures. The fur of an animal can help it hide if it has camouflaging characteristics (tigers), it can look like a warning to predators (skunks), or be thick for warmth and protecting organs from bites (bears). They may have a pretty appearance, but it is not the primary function of the fur.

The rattlesnake pictured has all three of the structures listed for survival and more! Snakes use their tongues as a way to "taste" or "touch" the air to receive sensory information; they have colored scales that can act as a warning to other predators or even as camouflage in their habitat. Rattlesnakes are unique in that they have a rattle on the ends of their chair that they can shake and vibrate as a warning to predators to stay away. These structures help snakes to survive in challenging places.

Andy is arguing that skin cannot help an animal survive, but he can be proven wrong. Many mammals, such as armadillos, hedgehogs, and porcupines, have protective skin features, such as quills and bony plates. These features of skin not only protect the animals from predators but also harsh habitats.

While animals’ size can undoubtedly assist them in their efforts to survive, elephants have several other structures that they rely on for survival, including their ears and skin, which keep them cool, their trunks which they use to eat and drink, and their tusks that they use for protection.

Animals have many internal structures which they rely on for survival. For example, the lungs, brain, and heart are all internal structures necessary for survival. Some animals have less common internal structures, too, like antifreeze proteins in the blood of Antarctic fish.

Electroreception is an internal structure. Internal structures are the inner pieces and parts which keep animals alive. A platypus cannot survive without electroreception, or, the ability to perceive electrical stimuli.

The plant has internal and external structures that aid in survival. The roots absorb water from the soil and keep the plant steady and stable, so it doesn't fall over. Without the roots, the plant would topple over and be dehydrated because of a lack of water.

The leaves on a plant are an external structure that assists in its survival. Without leaves, plants would not be able to make their food through the process of photosynthesis. The leaves absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight to turn into food for the plant. This structure is vital to a plant living and growing.

Flowers don't seem vital to a plant's survival, but they are an essential part of the process. They are the main structure for reproduction, so they aid in pollination to continue the development of new plants. Flower petals attract pollinators who then fertilize the plants, seeds are developed, and some plants produce fruits and vegetables, and pollinators are required for this process. Without the flower, all of these things would be impossible.

Erik is correct in his argument that plats have structures to keep them alive. Thorns, roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds are all examples of structures that plants have that keep them growing, reproducing, and living. Plants are living things that have adapted over the years to increase their rate of survival. If a plant has spines or spikes like thorns, something is less likely to eat it.

This statement is false. Plants have many structures that are suited for survival. Leaves, roots, flowers, petals, stems, and seeds are all examples of a structure that a plant has that keeps it alive. Each feature plays a specific part in the plant's survival. Plants have adapted to their surroundings to have the best opportunity at life.

Because fibrous roots can help hold a plant in the ground, in the event of flooding, this root system would help anchor the plant in place, thus allowing it to survive. While these types of roots do enable plants to absorb water, this ability alone would not cause the plant to survive an event such as a forest fire, lightning strike, or hurricane.

Leaves are an external structure of a plant. Leaves assist in the survival of the plant because they absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight to create food for the plant. This process is called photosynthesis, which the plant relies on to survive.

Flowers are the primary reproductive organs of the plants. The plant relies on the flowers to produce more of its kind so the species can survive.

Desert and aquatic plants have incredibly different needs thanks to their environments; therefore, they have different structures to assist in their survival. For example, aquatic plants are softer and have leaves that each contains an air bubble to allow the plant to stand up straight. Desert plants have leaves in the form of thorns and have very thick stems to store water for when there is a drought.

Plants have had to make changes, or adaptations, to be able to survive in many different environments. These adaptations may include leaf type, stem thickness, flexibility, carnivorous diet, and more!