Lesson

Needs of Animals

Students learn that animals need food, water, air, and shelter to stay alive.

Needs of Animals

What students learn

Students learn that animals need food, water, air, and shelter to stay alive. Begin with Animals Need Food and Water: Hear the Big Idea and notice the first needs that show up right away.

Why it matters

Students can use this lesson to explain why pets, farm animals, and wild animals need safe places and regular care. Animals Need Shelter: Find Safe Places helps them think about protection, shade, and rest.

Learn the idea

An animal must get its food from somewhere else, drink water, breathe air, and have a place to stay safe. Animals Need Air and Care: Review the Full List helps students finish the list and say the needs in order.

Try it

Ask the child to choose one animal and tell what it eats, drinks, breathes, and where it lives. If they need one more check, replay Animals Need Shelter: Find Safe Places and have them repeat the four needs in order.

Parent guide

Use pets or familiar animals as examples. Ask what happens if an animal cannot find water, shade, or a safe place. Encourage the child to answer in full sentences with the words food, water, air, and shelter.