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Science

Animal Homes

Overview

Children match animals to their homes, discovering that each animal is suited to where it lives.

Learning Objective
Children understand that different animals live in different places and can explain why an animal suits its home.

Resources needed

  • None — discussion-based, or pictures of animals and habitats if available

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Ask: where do you live? What does your home give you? (shelter, warmth, food nearby).
  2. 2 Ask: where do fish live? Where do birds live? Where do worms live?
  3. 3 Discuss why each animal lives where it does — it finds food, stays safe, raises young.
  4. 4 Introduce the word habitat: the natural home of an animal or plant.
  5. 5 Ask: what would happen if a fish tried to live in a tree?
  6. 6 Go outside and look for animal homes: spider webs, bird nests, holes in soil, under bark.
  7. 7 Ask: what clues tell you an animal lives there even if you cannot see it?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Match animals to habitats as a sorting activity.
  • Build a simple model habitat from natural materials.
  • Discuss what happens to animals when their habitat is destroyed.
More information

Teach: habitat, shelter, food, nest, burrow, web, suited, adapted. The question 'what does this animal need from its home?' structures the thinking for any animal discussed.

Focus on familiar local animals first before introducing distant or exotic examples.

Can children correctly match three animals to their habitats with a reason? Can they explain what a habitat provides for an animal?

The outdoor environment is the resource. Go outside and observe actual animal homes rather than using pictures.

Children sometimes think animals choose their homes by preference. Animals are suited to their habitat through adaptation — they could not easily survive elsewhere.

Habitat is one of the most important concepts in ecology. Starting with familiar animals and observable local homes makes it concrete and personally meaningful.

Activity details
Early Years Easy 20 minutes no prep Whole Class, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Habitats Animals Adaptation