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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Match animals to their habitats

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.2-LS4-1CCSS NGSS.3-LS4-3England: KS1 Y2 Living things and their habitats

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Match animals to their habitats.

  • 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: Habitats and microhabitats

Leads to: Compare how many kinds of living things live in different places

Materials: Animal picture cards, Habitat maps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Habitats and microhabitats). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which habitat is the Arctic fox best suited to? (the rainforest / woodland / the Arctic (polar) / the desert) → the Arctic (polar)Prompt: Think about where it could find food and stay at a good temperature.
  2. What is a habitat? (an animal's baby / a type of weather / the natural home of a plant or animal / a kind of food) → the natural home of a plant or animalPrompt: It is where something lives.
  3. Which animal lives in woodland? (badger / snowy owl / octopus / poison dart frog) → badgerPrompt: Think about whether each animal suits cold, heat, water or trees.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Match animals to their habitats. 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: Which habitat suits this animal best: mountain goat?
  • Step 1: Grippy hooves help mountain goats climb steep rocks.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: mountains
  • Answer: mountains
  • 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. Which habitat suits this animal best: mountain goat? (mountains / grassland (savanna) / woodland / pond) → mountainsPrompt: Think about what the animal needs: warmth or cold, water, trees or open space?
  2. Which animal is best suited to this habitat: grassland (savanna)? (clownfish / frog / zebra / mountain goat) → zebraPrompt: Which animal's body would help it survive there?

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. Which animal is best suited to this habitat: mountains? (toucan / camel / mountain goat / polar bear) → mountain goatPrompt: Which animal's body would help it survive there?
  2. What would probably happen to a polar bear moved to a hot desert? (It would grow scales. / It would be happier. / It would overheat and struggle to find food. / It would turn into a camel.) → It would overheat and struggle to find food.Prompt: What is its thick fur good for?

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: Habitats and microhabitats.
  • Use concrete materials: animal picture 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

  • Move on to: Compare how many kinds of living things live in different places.
  • 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-2.

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

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Match animals to their habitats

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which animal is best suited to this habitat: rainforest?

    • A. mountain goat
    • B. frog
    • C. toucan
    • D. zebra

  2. Question 2

    Which habitat suits this animal best: frog?

    • A. grassland (savanna)
    • B. desert
    • C. rainforest
    • D. pond

  3. Question 3

    Why do rainforests have so many different animals?

    • A. Animals there never eat.
    • B. They are very cold and dry.
    • C. They are warm and wet all year, with lots of plants for food and shelter.
    • D. They have no trees.

  4. Question 4

    Which animal is best suited to this habitat: coral reef?

    • A. polar bear
    • B. frog
    • C. mountain goat
    • D. clownfish

  5. Question 5

    Which habitat suits this animal best: mountain goat?

    • A. coral reef
    • B. mountains
    • C. desert
    • D. pond

  6. Question 6

    A habitat gives an animal everything it needs. Which list is right?

    • A. food, water, shelter and space
    • B. only other animals
    • C. only sunshine
    • D. toys, money and a car

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Answer key: Match animals to their habitats

  1. 1. C. toucan

  2. 2. D. pond

  3. 3. C. They are warm and wet all year, with lots of plants for food and shelter.

  4. 4. D. clownfish

  5. 5. B. mountains

  6. 6. A. food, water, shelter and space