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Living Things and their Habitats

Pupils should be taught to:
• explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive;
• identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other;
• identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats
• describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food.

Y2 Growing into Adults

Resource Details

Pupils complete a human time line that shows the development of a human baby into adulthood and then old age. They complete an investigation in the class to see if being the oldest pupil almost makes them the tallest.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - notice that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults
  • NaG - the focus at this stage should be on questions that help pupils to recognise growth; growing into adults can include reference to baby, toddler, child, teenager, adult
  • WS - pupils should observe, through video or first-hand observation and measurement, how different animals, including humans, grow

Y2 Simple Food Chain (2)

Resource Details

Pupils make two simple food chains using the images provided. A cut and paste activity.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food
  • NaG - pupils could construct a simple food chain that includes humans (e.g. grass, cow, human)

Y2 Simple Food chain

Resource Details

Pupils use the images provided to make four simple food chains. A cut and paste activity.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food
  • NaG - pupils could construct a simple food chain that includes humans (e.g. grass, cow, human)

Y2 Ocean Habitat Food Chain

Resource Details

Pupils place images in their correct order in to an ocean habitat food chain.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food

Y2 Matching Animals to their Habitats (2)

Resource Details

Pupils name and match a number animals to their habitats (homes). They try to identify the adaptations which each animal has developed that help it to live in its habitat. Pupils also try to say what each habitat provides for each animal e.g. food, shelter

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other; identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats
  • NaG - pupils should compare animals in familiar habitats with animals found in less familiar habitats, for example, on the seashore, in woodland, in the ocean, in the rainforest
  • WS – pupils should use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

Y2 Looking for Plants and Animals

Resource Details

Pupils go on a local plant and animal safari. They tick the boxes if they find the plants and animals in the survey living in the habitats the investigate.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats
  • NaG - pupils should be introduced to the terms ‘habitat’ (a natural environment or home of a variety of plants and animals) and ‘micro-habitat’ (a very small habitat, for example for woodlice under stones, logs or leaf litter)
  • WS - observing closely, using simple equipment

Y2 Living or Non-living?

Resource Details

Pupils have to help grandad is sort out living things from non-living things. A cut and paste activity.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
  • NaG - pupils should be introduced to the idea that all living things have certain characteristics that are essential for keeping them alive and healthy
  • WS - identifying and classifying; pupils use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

Y2 Living and Non-living Things

Resource Details

Pupils look at a range of pictures of living and non-living things. They cut them out and sort them into two groups and explain how they grouped them. Pupils then sort out a selection of animals into three animal groups, fish, birds and mammals.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
  • NaG - pupils should be introduced to the idea that all living things have certain characteristics that are essential for keeping them alive and healthy
  • WS - identifying and classifying

Y2 Where do I live? (1)

Resource Details

Pupils match animals to their habitats (homes) on the sheets provided. They try to identify the adaptations that each animal has developed that help it to live in that habitat. They also try to say what each habitat provides for each animal e.g. food, shelter

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other; identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats
  • NaG - pupils should compare animals in familiar habitats with animals found in less familiar habitats, for example, on the seashore, in woodland, in the ocean, in the rainforest
  • WS - pupils should use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

Y2 Am I Living or Non-Living?

Resource Details

Pupils look at a selection of pictures of living and non-living things. They cut them out and sort them into two groups. Pupils then explain how they grouped them.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive
  • NaG - pupils should be introduced to the idea that all living things have certain characteristics that are essential for keeping them alive and healthy
  • WS - identifying and classifying; pupils should use their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions

Y2 Food Chains

Resource Details

Pupils use the images provided to construct four separate food chains.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food

Y2 Describing Local Habitats

Resource Details

Pupils visit two local habitats in or around their school. Before visiting these two habitats pupils predict which types of plants and animals they may find living there.

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Learning Objectives:

  • PoS - identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other; identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including micro-habitats
  • NaG -pupils should be introduced to the terms ‘habitat’ (a natural environment or home of a variety of plants and animals) and ‘micro-habitat’ (a very small habitat, for example for woodlice under stones, logs or leaf litter).
  • WS - observing closely, using simple equipment