Lesson 3: Finding the best places for animals to live
This Reception animal habitats investigation helps children explore why different animals need different places to live. Children investigate temperature, light and different materials while beginning to consider what makes a habitat suitable for an animal.
The lesson supports Understanding the World: The Natural World, while developing early scientific enquiry skills through performing simple tests, using equipment, observing closely and talking about findings.
What makes a suitable habitat for an animal?
Children investigate different habitat conditions by measuring temperature, exploring which substances are easiest to dig through and testing how much light different materials allow through. They consider the needs of animals including foxes and worms and use their observations to decide which conditions might suit them best.
Reception animal habitats investigation and resources
Resources for this lesson include:
- Teacher lesson plan
- Experiment recording sheets
- Practical habitat investigations
- Temperature, light and materials investigations
- Continuous provision ideas
- Launchable teaching slides
✨ How to use the launchable slides
Launch the presentation directly in your browser and use it on your interactive whiteboard.
📝 Click Notes to see teacher guidance, answers and additional information where included.
⬅️ ➡️ To move through the presentation, click on the slides first, then use the left and right cursor arrow keys on your keyboard.
For technical and copyright reasons, these presentation slides are available to launch online rather than download.
This resource is part of the Mrs Mactivity Science Scheme of Work →
