Animal Habitats

Overview

In this lesson, students play a game. Each classroom corner represents a habitat. After selecting an animal card, students have to move to the matching habitat while acting out the animal displayed on their card. By explaining why they selected a certain habitat, students realize that a habitat is a place that helps an animal survive.

NGSS Alignment

This lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:

• K-ESS3-1. Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.
• 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.

This lesson focuses on these aspects of NGSS Three Dimensional Learning:

Science & Engineering Practices	Disciplinary Core Ideas	Crosscutting Concepts
Analyzing and Interpreting Data. Use observations (firsthand or from media) to describe patterns and/or relationships in the natural and designed world(s) in order to answer scientific questions and solve problems. Engaging in Argument from Evidence. Construct an argument with evidence to support a claim.	ESS3.A: Natural Resources. Living things need water, air, and resources from the land, and they live in places that have the things they need. Humans use natural resources for everything they do. LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans. There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.	Patterns. Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed and used as evidence.

Materials

• Printed and cut animal cards
• Printed example habitats
• Poster paper (4 sheets)
• Markers
• Tape or push pins