This Reception animals and habitats science unit helps children explore animals, where they live and how living things change through observation, questioning, practical investigation and play. Across six sequenced lessons, children build their knowledge of animals and habitats while developing early scientific enquiry skills.
Children compare animals and their characteristics, ask questions about where different animals live, investigate what makes a suitable habitat and use their senses to observe closely. They explore change through the butterfly life cycle and minibeasts before sorting, counting and recording information using simple pictograms.
The unit supports The Natural World, helping children explore the natural world around them and make observations of animals and their environments.
Animals and Habitats is part of our wider Reception science curriculum, helping children develop observation, questioning, simple testing and recording skills alongside their growing knowledge of animals and the natural world.
Animals and Habitats gives Reception children opportunities to investigate the natural world through first-hand observation, practical activities, discussion and play. Across the unit, children build their knowledge of animals and habitats while learning different ways to ask questions, investigate ideas and record what they notice.
Children look closely at different animals and compare their characteristics, identifying similarities and differences. Animal picture cards, sorting activities and opportunities to create animal homes encourage children to observe features, describe what they notice and begin to group animals in different ways.
Children ask questions about animal habitats and consider why different animals live in different places. Matching activities, outdoor exploration and animal footprint resources encourage children to investigate habitats and talk about what animals might need from the places where they live.
Children carry out simple tests to explore factors that can affect a habitat. They investigate temperature, light and different materials, using equipment including thermometers and torches as they begin to consider why some conditions might be more suitable for an animal than others.
Children explore the five senses and investigate how animals use sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Sensory activities encourage close observation and help children develop vocabulary for describing what they experience through their senses.
Children explore change through the butterfly life cycle, learning how a butterfly develops from an egg through the caterpillar and chrysalis stages. A minibeast hunt and minibeast habitat activity give children further opportunities to observe living things and explore the natural world directly.
Children begin to collect and record simple information by finding out about favourite animals. They count responses, represent their findings using a simple pictogram and talk about what the information shows, including which animals are most and least popular.
The six-lesson unit includes:
Explore the wider Reception science curriculum and scheme, or see our complete primary science scheme of work.
