We Love
Our Neighbors

LEARN

Objective: to learn that we live on Earth and share our planet with millions of plants and animals that all have homes here on Earth too

Vocabulary: habitat

Reading: Maple & Rosemary

Science Activity: Meet Our Animal Friends

Earth Friends Lesson

Module 2: Lesson 1

Begin Lesson

move: 10 minutes

Meet Our Animal Friends

Materials Needed: animal figurines or animal photos

For this activity, first help the children understand what a wild animal is. I think many of you know your pets or the animals we see on a farm. Today we are going to talk about wild animals that live here and all over Earth.

Are you ready to meet our Animal Earth Friends? Animals in Earth Friends are considered any living creature— mammals, fish, birds, insects, etc. Having an Animal Earth Friend each week will help the children learn the variety of animals and their different characteristics and needs and see how we share our home with our animal friends. We live on Earth with other living beings!

What is your favorite wild animal?

Show the children the selection of animals that you have—figurines or photos—and help each child choose an “Animal Friend” for Module 2*. This may take some time navigating the challenges of two children wanting the same animal—like a giraffe—or one child wanting a house pet like a dog. See if you can discover what the child likes about the animal (the giraffe or dog) and help find another animal with similar traits. Hand** them the animal they choose.

*Write down which child has which animal. Make sure the children know they cannot switch their animals each week. You may need to communicate that a few times.

**To prevent confusion, the Educator will always hand out the animals.

Use the photo book to
help create a selection of animals that live in all 8 habitats.

Curious Question

Where do you think your Animal Friend lives?

Allow each child to think about where their Animal Friend may live. This is likely new information to the children, so all answers are okay. Even answers that are incorrect are welcome.

Main Lesson

A home out in nature is called a habitat. Every habitat is special in its own way, and we are going to learn 8 habitats where our animal friends can live. There are some animals that live in more than 1 habitat (like leopards) and some animals that can only be found in 1 habitat (like lemurs).

sit & learn: 4 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 explore 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)

Closing Sentiment

We share Earth with many different kinds of plants and animals
and there are different habitats all over our planet where animals live.

move & learn: 6 minutes

Use the photo books to show the children the 8 different habitats.

End Lesson

Teachers in the Classroom

Teacher Activity

Animals At Home

Ask the children to draw their animal friend in its habitat, using paper and crayons to draw. You can encourage their creative flow with the prompts below, but remember drawing absolutely anything counts!

Materials Needed: plain paper; crayons

Prompts:

What does your animal friend eat? (trees, bugs, fish)
Where does your animal friend sleep? (nest, ground, water)
What color is your animal friend? (brown, orange, black, green)

Throughout the Week

Discuss: Earth is our home that everyone shares, even all of our plant and animal Earth Friends.

Explore: At any point, you can bring out the box of animals to say hello to our animal Earth Friends and talk about where they live on Earth.

Reading: Maple & Rosemary

Vocabulary: habitat

Good Choices

I can learn about where other animals live on Earth.
I can ask adults what plants and animals live near me.
I can share my animal friend with my Earth Friends.

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.

Families at Home

Learn: Help your child learn the 8 animal habitats that we talked about this week. You can draw pictures or read books or watch videos.