When I started teaching 20 years ago, I taught 3rd grade. There is a third grade science standard regarding adaptations. At the time, unit in the curriculum included  the need to order crayfish.

Sorting out how to acquire the crayfish proved to be a bit complicated. I learned that the acquisition of crayfish had caused problems in ecosystems in a variety of places in the United States , precisely because the crayfish could adapt so easily- as more often than not, they were released to the wild after the unit was finished. So, no crayfish. It turned out there was an alternate lesson you could do with snails. Snails have a similar capacity to adapt to their environment:

Their shell acts as a portable fortress. Their "foot" uses rippling muscle contractions to move, allowing  them to traverse vertical surfaces, burrow into sand, and suction tightly to rocks to withstand crashing waves or harsh winds.

Snails' "operculum"  serves as a  trap door that seals their soft bodies safely inside their shell, helping them survive dry periods and ward off predators. (The operculum, has been used in jewelry for centuries, a story for another day).

To survive extreme heat, drought, or cold, snails can enter a state of dormancy, sealing the opening of their shell with a hardened mucus layer, a process called "estivation." In extreme conditions, they can hibernate for up to three years.

IMPORTANT: To move a snail in danger of being stepping on, without harming its fragile body or shell, slide it gently forward from behind-rather than pulling it straight up. Pulling a snail directly upward can tear the muscles connecting its body to the shell. Move the snail to the other side of the path in the direction in which it was going. The snail trail leaves a scent for potential mates, so keep that in mind. That said, movement is better than destruction from inattentive walkers.

Back to third grade- we had a great time with the snails,  which I collected from a local park and released later. At one point they escaped in the classroom, leaving little trails everywhere. It was delightful.

Snail intaglio, bloodstone with "adapt" hand carved in the back,  a secret message. Sterling silver ring with an 18k bezel, sizable size 6. 23.9 grams, the entire face is 21 x 25mm.