Georgia Regions and Habitats Mrs. Martin’s Class

1. Georgia Regionsand HabitatsMrs. Martin’s Class GPS S3L1. Students will investigate the habitats of different organisms and the dependence of organisms on their habitat. S3L2. Students will recognize the effects of pollution and humans on the environment.

2. Before we get started, what is a region and a habitat?Do you know?

3. Vocabulary • Region – a territory, a big area • Habitat – (Watch the video to understand what a habitat is) • A habitat is…

4. A plant needs… • Sunlight Which habitat needs more sunlight—a mountain or piedmont (rolling hills)? • Water • Gas (carbon dioxide) • Space/soil

5. An Animal needs… • Food • Shelter • Water • Gas (oxygen) • space

6. What will happen if these needs are not in the organism’s habitat?

7. Where in the world is Georgia?Do you know?

8. Georgia is in the Southeastern part of the United States, on the continent of North America. There it is!

9. Georgia itself is divided into different regions. Each region is different from the others in their own special ways. They have different habitats. Your teacher will give you a Georgia Map.

10. The 3 northern regions, from left to right, are the • Appalachian Plateau, • the Ridge and Valley, and • the Blue Ridge). • The habitat in these regions: • MOUNTAIN

11. The central part of Georgia is called the Piedmont Region. It is also the name of the habitat.

12. The southern-most part of Georgia is called the Coastal Plain Region (swamps and marshes).

13. Georgia borders the Atlantic Ocean, so it also has a coastline and an abundance of barrier islands. Neat!

14. Activity: • Predict: Which plants and animals can be found in each habitat? Can some plants and animals live in more than one kind of habitat? • Write the names of plants and animals on your chart.

15. Let’s review on how a living thing or an organism survives in an environment. A plant needs… • Sunlight • Water • Gas (carbon dioxide) • Space/soil An animal needs… • Food • Shelter • Water • Gas (oxygen) • space

16. Let’s talk aboutADAPTATION! • An adaptation is a part or behavior that helps an organism get what it needs from its environment.

17. What are different plant adaptations? 1. Leaves • If a plant gets plenty of sunlight what could be the size of its leaves—broad (big)or needle-like (tiny)? • Which plant has smaller leaves—a plant near water or a plant that lives in a dry and sunny place? • Some plants/trees lose their leaves to save the food/nutrients in the stem for the winter.

18. What are different plant adaptations? 2. Stems • Some water plants have longer stems. • Trees have bark to protect the inside of the trunk/stem.

19. What are different plant adaptations? • 3. Roots • Which root system has stronger support?

20. Watch brainpopjr.com video on Plant Adaptation

21. What are different animal adaptations? • How do animals adapt to cold weather? hibernation and thick fur • Which animal can catch more prey? Why?

22. How can each animal get away from the predators(hunters)? Why?

23. How do these birds avoid the cold? They migrate—move from one place to another (north, summer; south, winter).

24. Use the pictures and identify their adaptation/s. Use the first person point of view. • Body parts like strong shell or carapace, slick body, claws, legs, fur, thick bark, strong roots and many others • Behavior like migration, hibernation, camouflage, and many others

25. Are you ready to find out what makes each region special? Do you want to know what kinds of plants and animals might be found in each?

26. Let’s start in Georgia’s Mountain! Take your prediction chart and Georgia map with you. Let’s take a little field trip, shall we?

27. The Georgia Mountains…

28. The Georgia Mountains… • The elevation is higher, and it’s shaded by trees. These things make the temperature cooler. • The terrain also makes it harder to get around. Some people live in the mountains, but it’s not highly populated. Can you think of some reasons why few people live in this region?

29. In the mountains, you might see… beautiful waterfalls. This is Amicola Falls in the North Georgia Mountains.

30. In the mountains, you might see… really tall trees like the Tulip Poplar and the Hemlock. BEGIN CHECKING IF THESE ORGANISMS (living things) are on your MOUNTAIN LIST.

31. You might also see some cool animals that call the Georgia Mountains their home. Let’s see what we can find!

32. Mudpuppies and American Toads are two amphibians which live in this habitat. Both need to live by mountain streams, but they love to hang out in the woods!

33. Box Turtles and Copperhead Snakes are two reptiles which live in this mountain habitat. Can you think of a reason why these two would be perfectly at home in the woods?

34. Lots of animals love to be high in the trees of the Georgia Mountains! Can you name these three?

35. Black Bears, Mountain Lions, and Coyotes are major predators in the mountains! They’re so furry! Why??

36. Activity 2 • Read: Georgia, My State Habitats: Mountains • Write names of organisms you can find from the book.

37. The Black Vulture is a scavenger that keeps this habitat clean- they have an important job here! Sadly, they were almost wiped out due to DDT- it made their eggs too soft to hatch. Now they are on the Threatened List, so they are making a comeback.

38. Humans’ use of DDT changed this habit just enough to almost kill off an entire species of bird. Can you think of other ways humans could possibly change this habitat, thus affecting the plants and animals that thrive here?

39. Activity 3: LET’S REVIEW! • Read pp. 36-40 of your textbook and answer the study guide. • Draw: Georgia Mountains Habitat

40. We have a special guest today • Let’s listen and guess who he/she is.

41. Hop back on the bus! It’s time to leave the Mountain Region! We’re heading south to the Piedmont Region of Georgia! Let’s go!

42. The Piedmont Region…

43. The Piedmont Region… • It’s farther south, so the temperature is warmer than in the mountains. • The land consists of rolling hills, lakes, and rivers. • Atlanta is in the Piedmont, making it the highest populated region of Georgia. Why do so many people like this region?

44. In the Piedmont, you might see… lots of tall buildings and twisting highways. Hey… what’s that building with the gold dome? Pretty!

45. In the Piedmont, you might see… Dogwood, Sweet Gum, and Hickory Trees! What kinds of trees lose their leaves in cold weather? What kinds of trees have leaves all year round? (coniferous or deciduous)Why?

46. Let’s see what animals we can find here! No hiking boots needed this time!

47. We could use a canoe though! Let’s check out the lakes and rivers first!

48. Near the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier, we might find some interesting critters! Water makes a great habitat!

49. Snapping Turtles and River Otters thrive in the Piedmont Region. Can you think of some reasons why these two would be perfectly at home in the water?

50. The Piedmont is home to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker and the Mourning Dove. Peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck…..