Resources: Research tools; e.g. internet and books.
Core Handout (2): Pages 1 and 2 contain pictures of 4 English habitats: a park, a forest, a wild meadow and an old dustbin. Page 3 contains a research sheet for the children to fill in as they discover their chosen habitat.
Enquiry Skill - Recording data, results and findings
Using tables, a variety of graphs, labelled diagrams and models to record observations, measurements, results and findings.
Enquiry Approach - Research
Using information from a variety of sources to answer scientific questions.
Look at microhabitats built in lesson 3 or recap on the designs the children made. What conditions did they create to encourage wildlife to live there? Which animals and plants would they expect to see?
Discuss with the children that animals will only live somewhere if they have enough to eat. Use the presentation slides to teach the children the terms producer and consumer. What is a producer? What is a consumer? Look at a habitat - what does everyone eat? Model to the children how to raise questions about what animals eat and where they find their food.
Ask the children to look closely at the four photographs (either presented on the board or on their desks). Ask each pair to select a photograph they would like to study.
In pairs, the children must:
Challenge Task: Encourage the children to ask a variety of questions, such as 'where does this animal find their food?' or 'does this animal store food for the winter?'
All plants are at the bottom of the food chain. Talk about seasonal diets. What do animals eat in the winter? Talk about how many animals gather food to get ready for hibernation in the winter.
The types of food that animals eat to survive in their habitats can vary greatly depending on the animal species and its location. Here are some examples of different types of food that animals may eat in different habitats:
Forest: In forest habitats, animals may eat a variety of foods including fruits, nuts, leaves, insects, small mammals, and birds. For example, deer may eat leaves, berries, and acorns, while birds of prey may eat small mammals or other birds.
Grassland: In grassland habitats, animals may eat grasses, seeds, and insects. For example, bison may eat grasses, while birds such as meadowlarks may eat insects and seeds.
Desert: In desert habitats, animals may eat plants, insects, and small mammals. For example, kangaroo rats may eat seeds, insects, and some plants, while vultures may eat small mammals or other animals that have died in the desert.
Arctic: In Arctic habitats, animals may eat fish, seals, and other marine animals. For example, polar bears may eat seals and fish, while Arctic foxes may eat small mammals and birds.
Ocean: In ocean habitats, animals may eat a variety of foods including plankton, fish, and other marine animals. For example, whales may eat krill and other small fish, while sharks may eat larger fish and marine mammals.
It's important to note that each animal species has specific dietary needs and preferences based on its biology and behaviour. Understanding what animals eat in their habitats is an important part of studying their ecology and the relationships between different species in their ecosystems.
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