• 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 jaguar best suited to? (the desert / the rainforest / the Arctic (polar) / the ocean) → the rainforestPrompt: Think about where it could find food and stay at a good temperature.
2. Which animal would you most likely find in a pond? (a lion / a polar bear / a frog / a camel) → a frogPrompt: Which animal needs water to lay its eggs?
3. Which animal lives in the rainforest? (squirrel / rattlesnake / sloth / camel) → slothPrompt: Think about whether each animal suits cold, heat, water or trees.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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: zebra? (mountains / coral reef / grassland (savanna) / Arctic ice) → grassland (savanna)Prompt: Think about what the animal needs: warmth or cold, water, trees or open space?
2. Which animal is best suited to this habitat: desert? (camel / mountain goat / toucan / zebra) → camelPrompt: Which animal's body would help it survive there?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Why do rainforests have so many different animals? (They are warm and wet all year, with lots of plants for food and shelter. / They are very cold and dry. / Animals there never eat. / They have no trees.) → They are warm and wet all year, with lots of plants for food and shelter.Prompt: Plants grow fast in warm, wet places.
2. Which animal is best suited to this habitat: desert? (toucan / camel / mountain goat / badger) → camelPrompt: Which animal's body would help it survive there?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-2.