Ok, don't want to gush and brag ... but my daughter wrote an essay for school, just a homework assignment about the different biomes of the earth and how animals adapt to their environments. It was cute and creative. Most of all, she had fun writing it. If you want to read it here it is:
THE POLAR BEAR WHO WANTED TO MOVE TO THE DESERT
Polar Bear: I'm going to move to the desert. It's so boring here in the tundra. All I do is fish eat and sleep. In the desert I heard its always warm and I don't have to put up with all this snow. I may not even have to hibernate!
Jess: No, don't do that polar bear! You are perfect for the tundra!
Polar Bear: What do you mean?
Jess: You have adaptations that help you survive there.
Polar Bear: What's an adaptation?
Jess: It's a certain thing about you're body that is designed especially for your type of body that makes it possible for you to live in the biome you live in.
Polar bear: So why does that stop me from moving to the desert? I just won't need my "adaptations" anymore.
Jess: You don't get it, do you? You're not the only animal that has adaptations! Every animal, including humans, have them. Everyone needs them to live were they live. So you just can't move to the desert, because you have the wrong adaptations!
Polar bear: Why does that stop me? I will learn the adaptations of the desert animals.
Jess: Polar bear, you can't just learn adaptations! Most of you're adaptations are structural, which means there part of you're body! So you really couldn't survive a day in the desert! The desert animals are mostly nocturnal. They can store water in their body or go days without it. You see water is very rare in the desert and...
Polar bear: But I eat fish, which live in water! Oh me oh my! What will I eat? I may starve!
Jess: You probably would! And even if you did have food, you'd die of heat before you even got to eat it! The desert isn't just warm like you said earlier, Its boiling HOT!
Polar bear: But then how do the desert animals survive?
Jess: They have thin fur. And may I remind you that you certainly don't have thin fur! You have thick fur, and a layer of fat under you're skin! That fat traps heat to keep you warm in the tundra but it certainly won't help you in the desert! Polar Bear, you were meant for the tundra! You have A small tail and small ears. Do you know why?
Polar bear: No.
Jess: The small size reduces the amount of body heat you lose as your blood flows to them, keeping them, and you, warmer.
Also, the fat layer I was telling you about, that is under your fur and skin. It really helps to keep you warm in the winter. Your thick fur insulates and protects you from the freezing temperatures. But do you Know what else it protects you from? The Water! Your fur is waterproof and unlike human hair, doesn't get wet! The water just drips off! That's because if it did get wet, you're hair would just freeze off! The last adaptation that you have is the way you're paws are hairy. That makes it possible for you're feet to stay warm while also giving you traction so you don't break the ice. So Polar bear, you really are meant for the tundra! What do you think about moving now?
Polar bear: I think it was a silly thought. I would never last a day in that awful desert! And I like the tundra better anyway, know that you made me realize how good I am at living in it. So, Jessica, you were right! And thanks to you I will never, ever think of moving anywhere else again, although this week I heard the rainforest is a lovely place?
Jess: Polar Bear, don't you even think about it!
Polar bear: All right, all right, I was just joking, anyway.
THE END
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