Kindergarten · Science · week 11

What animals need: food, water, shelter

Identify that animals need food, water, and shelter to survive, using real examples.

Animals need food to grow strong and have energy. They need water to drink. They also need shelter, which means a safe place to rest and stay protected from weather and danger. Every animal needs all three, even though the exact food, water, and shelter looks different for each one.

A pet dog gets dog food, a water bowl, and a cozy home from its family. A wild bird finds seeds and bugs, drinks from puddles or streams, and builds a nest for shelter.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Talk through your own pet's needs together, or watch birds outside and guess theirs.
  • Visit a window or yard and spot a real animal, then name its food, water, and shelter.
  • Separate needs from wants: a toy is a want, but food, water, and shelter are needs.
  • Let your child help feed or water a pet or refill a bird feeder if you have one.
Talk about it:
  • What does our pet, or a bird outside, need to live?
  • Where do wild animals find shelter?
  • What would happen if an animal had no water?

Mastery looks like: They correctly name all three needs, food, water, and shelter, for at least two different animals.

Common stumbles: Forgetting shelter as a need and only remembering food and water; confusing wants, like toys, with real needs.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
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