Animal Habitats
Objectives:
Students will make observations about various habitats.
Students will read about and research various habitats.
Students will build and classify a habitat for a given animal.
Next Generation Science Standards Supported:
2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
Common Core ELA Standards Supported:
CC.1.2.2. A Identify the main idea of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
CC.1.2.2. E Use various text features and search tools to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently.
Station Materials:
Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner*
Arctic Tundra by Michael H Foreman*
My Home in the Rainforest by J Patrick Lewis*
Word and Picture Cutouts (attached below)
3 Rectangular Containers
Sand
Water
Large Rocks
Dirt
Shells
Laptops or iPads
*OR the 3 articles attached below
Challenge Materials:
Tissue Paper (rainbow of colors)
Popsicle Sticks (colored)
Polyfill
Play-Doh
Pipe Cleaners
Faux Grass
Rocks/Gravel
Marbles
Paper
Scissors
Crayons
Masking Tape
*Feel free to add/exclude any challenge materials according to availability and needs
Predictions:
Students use the habitat predictions worksheet (pdf attached below) to draw what they think each habitat will look like based on its name or anything they already know about it.
Observation Stations:
Station 1: Reading
- Students read the books Over and Under the Pond, Arctic Tundra, and My Home in the Rainforest (or read the 3 articles attached to the bottom of this page)
Note: These stories are most likely above students' reading levels. This is okay! They will still learn about the different habitats
from the pictures and be able to experience them in an authentic reading setting. Or books could be read aloud to students.
- Each book teaches students about a different habitat:
Over and Under the Pond: Freshwater
Arctic Tundra: Polar
My Home in the Rainforest: Rainforest
- Students will write what they learn/their observations of each habitat in their Observation Notebook (attached below)
Station 2: Tactile/Sorting
- Prepare 3 sorting bins for students:
1. Desert: fill with sand
2. Ocean: fill half with sand and half with water
3. Mountain: fill with large rocks and dirt
- Students place a label on each bin for which habitat they think each bin represents
- Students sort pictures and words next to or into the bins (if allowing students to place papers in the bins, make sure they are laminated)
- When finished, students can self-check using the self-check printouts
- Students then record their observations about each habitat in their Observation Notebook
Station 3: Research
- Using an iPad or Laptop, students search Kiddle.co to find information about Grassland and Temperate Forest habitats.
- Students can do an image search or search for websites. All will be kid--friendly and safe! Most will be a middle school reading level, but students should be encouraged to search for words they know, observe pictures, and read captions.
- Students will record any observations about the habitats in their Observation Notebook
Reflection Questions to Ask (coming together as a whole group or individually):
- Did the habitats match your predictions? Why or why not?
- How were these habitats similar to one another? How were they different?
- Which habitat do we live in? (Temperate Forest)
- Have you visited, or do you know of any places that would be in a different habitat?
STEAM Challenge:
Give each student or team of students an animal. They will use the given materials and their new knowledge about habitats to build a habitat for that animal. Before building their habitat, ask students to consider the following questions:
- What will my animal need in its habitat? (Food, Shelter, etc.)
- What type of habitat would my animal live in?
Students' habitats and their animal must fit inside their given box. When finished, the student will share their product with the class (or a parent) and explain why they chose to put their animal in that habitat.