Habitat—what's that? (Lesson one)

This lesson helps students define what the word habitat means and what basic elements make up an animal's habitat.

A lesson plan for grade 1 English Language Arts and Science

By Kelly Stewart

Learn more

• North Carolina Zoo schedules for a possible field trip and information about zoo exhibits
• Project WILD a conservation education program for K–12
• EPA Teaching Center information and programs for teachers from the Environmental Protection Agency

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Related topics

• Learn more about biology and life science and science.

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Learning outcomes

By the end of this lesson students should be able to define the word habitat orally. Additionally, they should be able to list or verbalize general things that are found in an animal’s habitat, such as food and water.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45 minutes

Materials/resources

• chalk or dry erase board, markers
• sticky notes
• dictionary
• mini books assembled (six blank pages)
• chart paper
• Project WILD handbook or website (not necessary to complete lesson but helpful)
• large open area for part two of lesson

Technology resources

• internet access (in case you want to see Project WILD website prior to lesson)

Pre-activities

This is an introductory lesson so no previous knowledge is required. We will be building our prior knowledge for future lessons during the completion of these activities.

Activities

1. The teacher will place the word habitat on the board. The word will be read aloud to students and used in a sentence. Then students will be asked to write on a small sticky note what they think the word habitat means.
2. After students have five to ten minutes to respond at their seats they will gather together to share their writing aloud.
3. After the students have read their definitions, the teacher will locate the word habitat in a dictionary and read it aloud to the students.
4. The students will then put the definitions into their own words and write a definition of the word habitat in their habitat mini-books.
5. The second part of this lesson will begin now. The teacher will ask students what things are essential for their survival and the students will brainstorm answers to the question aloud.
6. Then the teacher will pose the question, “What things do animals need to survive?” Students will respond to this aloud and the teacher will record the students’ ideas on an animal needs chart.
7. The teacher will then return to the animal needs chart and discuss with students how these needs are met in habitats. The teacher will explain to the students how the different parts of the habitat work together to create and optimal living space for animals. To illustrate the importance of habitat components to the students the teacher will arrange students into a tight circle in a large open space to perform the Habitat Lap Sit activity from Project WILD.
8. The teacher will then randomly assign students to be water, food, shelter, or space within the circle. Ensuring that the students are spaced close together, the teacher will instruct the students to sit at one time.
9. Hopefully, the students will end up sitting in one big circle upon one another’s laps.
10. The teacher will then instruct the students to all stand at the same time and will remove one group from the circle, such as the food kids.
11. Then the teacher will again instruct the remaining students in the circle to sit down. The students will attempt to sit down again. The teacher will ask the students to explain what happened. Students will respond about why the circle sit didn’t work the second time.
12. Finally, the teacher will end the lesson with a brief oral review of what a habitat is and what things make up a habitat.

Assessment

To ensure that students have met the objectives the teacher will look at the student’s habitat mini-books and read the student’s definitions of a habitat. Also, the teacher will continually be aware of student responses to questions posed throughout the lesson and will have charts as evidence of understanding. Finally, the teacher can assess understanding by making sure each student is given a chance to contribute to the discussion.

Supplemental information

• Science Texts: Most first grade texts have sections on animal habitats. My school uses the Harcourt Brace series.
• Project WILD Handbook (available at Project WILD workshops, visit site to sign up for workshop and see samples of activities)

Comments

This lesson should be used in conjunction with the other lessons but could be used alone if the teacher desires. It is really part of a unit on animal habitats. The unit is supposed to only briefly touch on the animals and plants that live in each type of habitat. The individual habitats should be re-introduced and expanded after this unit has been taught. The unit lessons are as follows:

• Lesson 1: Habitat—what’s that?
• Lesson 2: Habitat hodgepodge
• Lesson 3: Whose habitat is that?
• Lesson 4: Match that habitat
• Lesson 5: Habitat happenings
• Zoo field trip
• Lesson 6: Habitat homework