1. What can fossils tell us about past environments? 2. What are adaptations? 3. How do present-day plants and animals help us learn about fossil plants and animals? Objective 1. Discuss why some animals thrive in certain environments better than others. 2. Distinguish between physical and behavioral adaptations. 3. Construct an ancient elephant skeleton. Background Biodiversity Biodiversity is a measure of the variety of life on Earth. Biodiversity also describes the wealth of habitats that house all life forms and the interconnections that tie them together. All of Earth’s ecosystems and the Duration: 60 Minutes Additional Standards: 3rd Grade: 3-LS4-1, 3-LS4-2, and 3-LS4-3 4th Grade: 4-LS1 and 4-LS1-1 5th Grade: 5-LS2, LS2.A, and LS2.B 6th Grade: MS-LS1-4, LS1.B, MS-LS2, MS-LS2-1, and LS2.A.