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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Why some animals live in groups

Ecosystems and food chains

CCSS NGSS.3-LS2-1England: KS2 Y4 Living things and their habitats

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Why some animals live in groups.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Producers, consumers, predators and prey

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Food web cards, Arrows to build chains, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Producers, consumers, predators and prey). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. acacia leaves → giraffe → lion What is the acacia leaves in this food chain? (producer / secondary consumer / primary consumer / tertiary consumer) → producerPrompt: Start at the plant and count the arrows.
  2. lettuce → slug → hedgehog → badger Which animal is the prey of the hedgehog? (slug / hedgehog / badger / lettuce) → slugPrompt: A predator hunts and eats other animals; its prey is the animal it eats.
  3. Food chains: which statement is true? (Producers eat consumers. / An animal can be both a predator and prey. / A food chain can start with a lion. / Herbivores are predators.) → An animal can be both a predator and prey.Prompt: Producers make food; consumers eat.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a food web and ask what would happen if one animal disappeared.
  • Share the objective: Why some animals live in groups. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: How does living in a group help here: wolves hunting as a pack?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: they can catch animals much bigger than one wolf
  • Answer: they can catch animals much bigger than one wolf
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. How does living in a group help here: elephants in a herd? (adults protect the calves from lions / they share warmth in freezing winds / one warns the others when a hawk is near / they can catch animals much bigger than one wolf) → adults protect the calves from lionsPrompt: Think about food, safety, warmth and sharing work.
  2. Why do zebras stay close together in a herd? (Because they cannot walk alone. / To keep the grass warm. / Many eyes spot danger, and the stripes confuse lions. / To make it easier for lions to catch them.) → Many eyes spot danger, and the stripes confuse lions.Prompt: Is it easier for a lion to sneak up on one zebra or on a herd?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Geese fly in a V shape and take turns at the front. How does this help? (It helps them see the ground. / It makes them fly slower. / It keeps them dry. / Birds behind save energy, and sharing the front spreads the hard work.) → Birds behind save energy, and sharing the front spreads the hard work.Prompt: Cyclists in a race ride close behind each other for the same reason.
  2. True or false? All animals live in groups. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Think of the benefits and the costs.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Producers, consumers, predators and prey.
  • Use concrete materials: food web cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Why some animals live in groups

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Some animals hunt in groups to catch bigger prey.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    How does living in a group help here: meerkats taking turns as lookouts?

    • A. it is hard for a predator to pick out one fish
    • B. they can catch animals much bigger than one wolf
    • C. one warns the others when a hawk is near
    • D. they share warmth in freezing winds

  3. Question 3

    Leafcutter ants cut leaves, carry them home and grow a fungus on them to eat. Why can a colony do this but one ant cannot?

    • A. Thousands of ants share the different jobs.
    • B. One ant is too lazy.
    • C. Fungus only grows near crowds.
    • D. Leaves are only cut at night.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Living in a group can help animals stay warm.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    How does living in a group help here: emperor penguins huddling together?

    • A. they share warmth in freezing winds
    • B. they can catch animals much bigger than one wolf
    • C. one warns the others when a hawk is near
    • D. adults protect the calves from lions

  6. Question 6

    Geese fly in a V shape and take turns at the front. How does this help?

    • A. It makes them fly slower.
    • B. It helps them see the ground.
    • C. Birds behind save energy, and sharing the front spreads the hard work.
    • D. It keeps them dry.

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Answer key: Why some animals live in groups

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. C. one warns the others when a hawk is near

  3. 3. A. Thousands of ants share the different jobs.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. A. they share warmth in freezing winds

  6. 6. C. Birds behind save energy, and sharing the front spreads the hard work.