A Lesson Plan from the Norfolk Botanical Garden

Habitat Habits

Send questions and comments concerning this lesson to Molly Headden, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Norfolk, VA.

Grade Levels

K - 4

Objectives

To understand that all living things need food, shelter, space and water. All living things seek a habitat that will meet these needs.

Standards of Learning

Science
K.6, 1.4, 1.5, 2.5, 2.8, 3.6, 4.5

Description:

Teachers define habitat and ask students to describe their habitat.

Procedure

Define the word habitat for your class, or ask participants for their definitions. Older children should be able to give a reasonable description of a habitat. A habitat is a place (or home) for living things. A habitat provides four important things: food, shelter, space, and water.

Explain each of the four needs individually, with help from your class. Encourage students to talk about a specific animal or plant and describe its food, shelter and other needs. The information below can guide your discussion.

Food is needed by all living things. Animals may eat plants or other animals as their food. Food is energy, it keeps animals moving and working. Green plants make their food from oxygen, water and sunlight.

Shelter may be a house to a human, but it can mean different things to other animals. It may mean a dark cave ceiling to a bat, or the underside of tree bark to a beetle. Shelter protects animals from predators or from heat, wind, rain or cold.

Space is of great importance to red-winged blackbirds in a marsh. These birds often perch on the tops of cattails, but always stay several cattails away from other birds. Humans also are good examples of animals that need space, or territory. How many people in your class share their bedroom with one brother or sister? Two? Five? Ten? Somepeople prefer to have lots of space to themselves. Other people like to have lots of siblings and friends close by. Everyone has different needs and preferences for space.

Water is a basic need for all creatures. Animals and plants use water. Otters swim and wash their food in streams. Fish live and spawn in rivers. Ducks dabble for morsels under a lake surface. Humans slurp long, cool drinks from drinking fountains on hot summer days.

Activity

Hand out the Activity Sheet. Ask participants to close their eyes and think of their shelters. Have them imagine their homes as giant habitats. Now let them open their eyes and fill in the sheet. After they are finished, let each person read their story to the rest of the group. (If your class is too young to read or write, sit in a circle and read the story. Let different children suggest words to fill in the blanks. Record the words. (Be sure to read the full story back to the group!)

Ask your group, again, why habitats are important. What is special about their own habitats? Ask the children if they can describe farm field habitat; forest habitat; wetland habitat; city street habitat. How are these habitats alike? How are they different?

Assessment:

What four needs does a habitat meet for animals? Could a living thing survive if one of these needs wasn’t met? Do animals sometimes leave habitats in search of these needs? Do plants die if their needs aren’t met?

Extensions:

People sometimes change habitats. We cut trees and use them to build houses. We grow lawns instead of wild bushes and trees. Is it okay for humans to change habitats because we want or need to?

Loss of shelter is one reason some animals are threatened. Your class can provide shelter for birds by building nest boxes. The population of bird species such as eastern bluebird and wood duck have increased because of artificial nests. Be sure the nest box and site are right for the species. Eastern bluebirds, for example, really like wide open areas, so agricultural fence lines are a great place to put artificial nests for them. You can increase nesting spots for city birds, too. Try building a wire basket for mourning doves.

Web Sites:

Norfolk Botanical Garden http://www.communitylink.org/nbg

National 4-H Council:
www.4h-usa.org

www.fourhcouncil.edu

Virginia State Home Page


Contact person:

Molly Headden
Norfolk Botanical Garden
6700 Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk, VA 23518-5337

(757)441-5838
garden@norfolk.infi.net

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