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Science lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

Animals that live on land, in water or in both

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.K-ESS3-1England: EYFS Understanding the World: The natural worldEngland: KS1 Y2 Living things and their habitats

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Animals that live on land, in water or in both.

  • 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: Animal homes: nests, burrows, hives and more

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Animal homes: nests, burrows, hives and more). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Where does a bear live? (den / an empty shell / cave / hive) → denPrompt: Think about what this animal builds or finds to stay safe.
  2. Which animal lives in this home: burrow? (spider / beaver / rabbit / hermit crab) → rabbitPrompt: Picture the home: is it underground, in a tree, in water or made of silk?
  3. A rabbit's burrow is underground. How does that help the rabbit? (It gets more sunlight. / It can fly away faster. / It can hide from foxes and keep warm. / It can see further.) → It can hide from foxes and keep warm.Prompt: Is it easy for a fox to follow a rabbit down a narrow tunnel?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Animals that live on land, in water or in both. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Where does this animal live: otter?
  • Step 1: These animals spend time both on land and in water.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: on land and in water
  • Answer: on land and in water
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. Where does this animal live: squirrel? (only in water / only on land / on land and in water) → only on landPrompt: Does it have fins, legs, or both webbed feet and lungs?
  2. Which animal lives only on land? (starfish (sea star) / whale / crocodile / squirrel) → squirrelPrompt: Think about where you would find each animal in the wild.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. A camel lives in a dry desert far from rivers. How does it manage with little water? (It can go many days without drinking, then drink a lot at once. / It swims to the sea every day. / It never needs water at all. / It breathes water through gills.) → It can go many days without drinking, then drink a lot at once.Prompt: All animals need water, but some need it less often.
  2. Where does this animal live: frog? (only in water / only on land / on land and in water) → on land and in waterPrompt: Does it have fins, legs, or both webbed feet and lungs?

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: Animal homes: nests, burrows, hives and more.
  • 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

  • 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/kindergarten.

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

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Animals that live on land, in water or in both

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which animal lives only on land?

    • A. duck
    • B. penguin
    • C. giraffe
    • D. hippo

  2. Question 2

    Why can't a goldfish live out of water?

    • A. It does not need air.
    • B. It breathes using gills that work only in water.
    • C. It is too heavy to walk.
    • D. It gets too sunburnt.

  3. Question 3

    Where does this animal live: giraffe?

    • A. only in water
    • B. only on land
    • C. on land and in water

  4. Question 4

    Which animal lives on land and in water?

    • A. whale
    • B. starfish (sea star)
    • C. otter
    • D. elephant

  5. Question 5

    A camel lives in a dry desert far from rivers. How does it manage with little water?

    • A. It never needs water at all.
    • B. It swims to the sea every day.
    • C. It can go many days without drinking, then drink a lot at once.
    • D. It breathes water through gills.

  6. Question 6

    Where does this animal live: frog?

    • A. only in water
    • B. only on land
    • C. on land and in water

  7. Question 7

    Where does this animal live: jellyfish?

    • A. only in water
    • B. only on land
    • C. on land and in water

  8. Question 8

    Where does this animal live: goldfish?

    • A. only in water
    • B. only on land
    • C. on land and in water

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Answer key: Animals that live on land, in water or in both

  1. 1. C. giraffe

  2. 2. B. It breathes using gills that work only in water.

  3. 3. B. only on land

  4. 4. C. otter

  5. 5. C. It can go many days without drinking, then drink a lot at once.

  6. 6. C. on land and in water

  7. 7. A. only in water

  8. 8. A. only in water