Habitats

Year 2

Unit Overview

In the Habitats project, we will learn what a habitat provides for the plants and animals that live there and that habitats contain both living and non-living things. We will identify living things using the seven life processes and sort the non-living things into those that have lived and those that have never lived. We will use spotting sheets to identify plants and animals from a woodland habitat by carefully observing their physical characteristics. We will research how a woodland habitat provides the things necessary for the survival of the animals that live there. We will learn about food chains and construct our own food chains for the woodland habitat. We will investigate the different ways prey animals avoid being eaten and conduct an investigation into animal camouflage. We will also look at the different methods plants use to avoid being eaten and group them according to how they defend themselves. We will then use the skills they have learned in the project to investigate the living things, food chains and adaptations in a mystery habitat.

❇ MEMORABLE MOMENT

The class will complete an investigation: Do snails have noses?

️✏️ WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

Children will be recording their investigations such as writing a prediction, method and conclusion

🌳 LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

We will be observing animals in our local environment

Unit Sequence: Learning Intentions

  1. To follow a set of instructions to perform a range of simple tests, making simple predictions for what might happen and suggesting ways to answer their questions

  2. To interpret and construct simple food chains to describe how living things depend on each other as a source of food.

  3. To compare and group things that are living, dead or have never been alive.

  4. To use simple equipment to measure and make observations.

  5. To identify and name a variety of plants and animals in a range of habitats

  6. Describe a range of local habitats and habitats beyond their locality (beaches, rainforests, deserts, oceans and mountains) and what all habitats provide for the things that live there

Scientific Enquiry: Investigations

  1. Do snails have noses?

🏁 BIG FINISH

Children will create a learning poster which identifies and names living things and explains how they depend on one another for food and shelter.

📖 FOCUS TEXT(S)

Non fiction texts about animals and habitats will be used within lessons and be available in the class library.