This Year 2 living things and their habitats unit helps pupils explore the differences between things that are living, dead and have never been alive before investigating habitats, microhabitats and simple food chains. Linked to the Year 2 Science National Curriculum, pupils develop their understanding of what living things need to survive and how animals and plants depend on their environment and one another.
Across six sequenced lessons, pupils classify living and non-living things, explore what makes a habitat suitable, design an animal habitat, investigate microhabitats outdoors, create a microhabitat for insects and construct simple food chains. Practical scientific enquiry gives pupils opportunities to observe closely, identify and classify, use simple equipment, gather evidence and use their observations to answer questions.
Pupils should be taught to:
Living Things and Their Habitats forms part of the Scintillating Science Year 2 scheme. Explore the Year 2 science page to see curriculum coverage, progression and the other science units available for the year.
The Year 2 living things and their habitats programme of study develops pupils’ understanding of living things and the environments in which they live. Pupils learn to distinguish between living, dead and never alive things, investigate habitats and microhabitats and explore how animals and plants depend on their surroundings and one another for survival.
Pupils explore the characteristics of living, dead and never alive things and classify different examples. They consider more challenging examples and explain the reasoning behind their classifications, helping them develop an understanding of what it means for something to be living.
Year 2 pupils learn that a habitat is the environment in which an animal or plant lives. They explore the basic needs of living things and investigate why particular animals and plants are suited to different habitats, considering factors such as food, water, shelter and the conditions they need to survive.
Pupils apply their understanding of suitable habitats by considering the needs of different animals and deciding what their environments must provide. They use this knowledge to design suitable animal habitats and explain how their choices meet the needs of the living things within them.
Pupils investigate microhabitats in the local environment and observe the plants and animals found within them. Outdoor investigation encourages pupils to look closely at conditions such as shelter and temperature and consider why different microhabitats are suitable for particular living things.
Pupils apply their learning by planning and creating a microhabitat for insects. They select suitable natural and man-made materials, consider where their microhabitat should be located and explain how their choices could help provide an appropriate environment for different insects.
Year 2 pupils learn how animals obtain food from plants and other animals through simple food chains. They explore sources of food, learn how arrows show the transfer of energy and construct food chains in different habitats, including woodland, rainforest and underwater environments.
Practical Year 2 habitat investigations are embedded throughout the unit. Pupils sort and classify, explore habitats outdoors, investigate microhabitats using simple equipment, design and create suitable habitats and take part in a practical food chain activity. These experiences develop observation, classification, questioning and evidence-gathering skills alongside scientific knowledge.
This Year 2 living things and their habitats unit includes six sequenced science lessons, with resources to support teaching, practical enquiry and assessment:
See how this unit fits into the wider curriculum and explore Year 2 science planning and resources, or browse our primary science scheme of work for Reception to Year 6.
