Module 2: We Love Our Neighbors
We Love
Our Neighbors
CONNECT
Objective: to comprehend the effects of changes in Earth's 3 elements-land, water, and air-on animal habitats
Vocabulary: biodiversity
Reading: Maple & Rosemary
Science Activity: Safe Shelter
Earth Friends Lesson
Module 2: Lesson 4
Begin Lesson
move: 5 minutes
8 Animal Habitats
This is a repeated activity that the children will do at the beginning of each lesson of Our Neighbors. The repetition will help the children learn the 8 habitats where animals (and plants) make their homes on Earth. Habitats are different and can provide different needs for Earth Friends all over the world.
For the activity, the children will learn the motion that connects to each habitat. You can call out the habitats and the children can respond with the appropriate motion. As the lessons progress, you will then add each child's animal friends to the habitats.
We are going to learn about the different animal habitats. Every habitat is special in its own way, and we are going to move our bodies and pretend to be exploring each different habitat.
GRASSLAND: hot or warm, where the land is covered with grass and a few trees. Make a running or walking motion and “shhh-shhh-shhh” sound like you are moving through grass.
POLAR: cold, where the land is covered with snow and the water is full of icebergs. Shiver.
DESERT: hot and dry, where the land is covered in sand and not many plants or trees. Wipe sweat off brow.
MOUNTAIN: all kinds of weather can be found here, but the land is full of hills, ledges, and rocks. Climb in place with arms and legs.
FRESH WATER: ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, where life is underwater and near the shore with all kinds of weather. Move arms and body as if swimming.
TEMPERATE FOREST: warm or cold, where the land is covered in many trees. Spread arms wide to make branches of tall tree.
RAIN FOREST: hot and wet, where the land is covered in trees and plants of all kinds. Reach arms overhead and then down wiggling fingers and making a “shhhhhh” sound for rain.
OCEAN: all kinds of weather, salt water, and life is underwater and on the beach. Make a wave motion from one side to the other.
Download all 8 Habitat PDF illustrations to use here!
(illustrations by Andrew Mrotek)
Use the photo books to show the children the 8 different habitats.
Curious Question
I wonder what happens when a habitat changes or goes away.
Main Lesson
Not all plants and animals have a safe home, because some humans cut down trees, throw garbage on the land, and make the water dirty. Other habitats are in danger when Earth gets too hot. When the land, water, and air is not safe or dirty, it is hard for plants and animals to have what they need to live. Sharing and caring for Earth with all our different plant and animal friends is called biodiversity.
sit & discover: 5 minutes
Safe Shelter
Materials Needed: animal figurines; a compostable take-out container or shallow box; pine tree clippings (no longer than 3-4 in.); pieces of trash smaller than 1 in.; repurposed clear plastic wrap or a baggie; crazy glue or a glue gun; a nail or thumbtack
Preparation: to build 2 separate habitats*:
Separate the top and bottom of the container so you have 2 containers to work with.
First, you are going to craft the healthy habitat. Cover half of the container with the plastic wrap (this is the water). Next poke at least a dozen holes in the other half of the container to insert trees. Put a dab of glue on one end of the pine tree clipping and glue it into a hole, so all the trees stand up.
Now, to create the unhealthy habitat. Glue small pieces of trash to the bottom of the container. Next, glue the plastic wrap over the trash on one half and poke holes to glue trees on the other half. Cut a few trees down to the nub and pull the pine needles off others. For this activity, select several animals local to the environment.
Gather the children in a circle. Set up the 2 habitats side by side so the children can see each one. Place a few animals on the floor.
Where do you think the bird would like to live? How about the fox? Which habitat do you think the butterfly would like to call home?
The habitat you create a reflects a local habitat near the school. The animal figurines will be local to this habitat. This is an example of the Pine Barrens, local to Southern New Jersey.
Closing Sentiment
When the land, water, and air are not clean and safe, the plants and animals do not have somewhere to live. Humans can make good choices to help the plants and animals stay safe and have homes. Earth Friends want all our plant and animal friends to have everything they need to live here on Earth. Biodiversity makes Earth special.
move & engage: 10 minutes
PLACE
BASED
End Lesson
Teachers in the Classroom
Teacher Activity
Helping My Animal Live
Materials Needed: animal figurines or photos
Have the children sit in a circle* and get out their animal friend from the box. Go around the circle and ask each child.
What does your animal need to live? How can your animal friend stay safe?
Allow the children to answer with what they think their animal needs to eat or stay safe.
*Small Group Option: Divide the children into animal groups based on the 3 elements: land, water, and air. What does their animal do in the land, water, and air?
Throughout the Week
Discuss: what makes it hard for plants and animals to live in their habitats. How do some humans hurt? How can some humans help?
Discover: Go on an animal home scavenger hunt outside the school. Let the children walk around and see what kind of animal homes and shelters they can find. Birds' nests, ant hills, spider webs. Tally the number and talk about what kind of animals live in your environment.
Reading: Maple & Rosemary
Vocabulary: habitat, shelter, natural environment, biodiversity
Good Choices
I can be a human who helps animals live safely in their habitat.
I can tell an adult if I see trash on the land or ask why the water is not clean.
I can learn about where plants and animals live on Earth.
I can share the land, water, and air with plants and animals and be a part of Earth's biodiversity.
Vocabulary:
habitat: A home found in nature is called a habitat. Every habitat is special in its own way, and we are going to pretend to be the habitats where our plant and animal friends live.
shelter: A place where an animal can rest and sleep safely in their home, such as a tree, cave, burrow, or nest is their shelter.
natural environment: Everything that is outside of our house and the buildings where we live is called our environment. Our natural environment is everything that nature makes.
biodiversity: The many different animals, plants, and humans sharing a home on Earth is biodiversity.
Families at Home
Discover: the many different plants and animals that we share Earth with by watching Our Planet (2006) and Our Planet || (2019) which showcase the many habitats here on Earth. Available on Netflix, Amazon, and Discovery. You can also watch Wild Robot for a story of sharing and kindness—and biodiversity.
Visit: Plan a Nature Playdate for your child/children and a friend. Choose somewhere outside where everyone can safely explore nature. When you get there have an animal home scavenger hunt. How many animal homes can you find? Who lives there? State and County parks are great places to visit.