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A concluding lesson on how humans can help provide the needs of plants and animals in their environment.
Have you ever wondered what your pet or a flower would say if they could talk to you? They might say, 'Thank you for helping me grow!'
Every living thing, from a tiny ant to a tall tree, needs the same things to stay alive. We call these the Basic Needs. There are main things they must have: Air to breathe, Water to drink, Food to eat, and Space (or shelter) to live in. When we take care of a plant or an animal, we are making sure they have all of these things!
Quick Check
Can you name the four basic needs that all living things have?
Answer
Air, Water, Food, and Space (or Shelter).
When a plant lives in a pot or a pet lives in our house, they cannot find their own food and water easily. We have to be their helpers. For a plant, we check if the soil is dry. If it is, we give it a little water. For a pet, like a hamster or a dog, we make sure their water bowl is full and they have healthy food to eat every day.
Follow these steps to help a classroom plant: 1. Touch the dirt with finger. 2. If the dirt feels dry, get a small cup of water. 3. Pour the water slowly near the stem. 4. Make sure the plant is sitting in a sunny spot for light!
Quick Check
If a plant's soil feels wet, should you give it more water right now?
Answer
No, because giving a plant too much water can be just as bad as not enough!
Animals in the wild have homes called habitats. A forest, a pond, or even a crack in the sidewalk can be a home! We can help wild animals by protecting their space. This means we don't pick all the flowers, we don't move bird nests, and we never leave trash on the ground. Trash can make animals sick or ruin their homes.
When you go to a park, you can be a 'Nature Hero' by doing these things: 1. Keep your distance: Watch animals from far away so they don't get scared. 2. Clean up: If you see a piece of litter, ask a grown-up to help you put it in the trash. 3. Stay on the path: Walking on the path keeps you from stepping on tiny bug homes!
Quick Check
Why is it important to put our trash in the bin when we are outside?
Answer
Because trash can hurt animals or ruin the places where they live.
Sometimes the best way to care for living things is just to watch and learn. By looking closely at how a bee visits a flower or how a squirrel hides a nut, we learn what they need. We don't always need to touch things to help them. Just by being kind and quiet, we let animals do their important jobs in nature.
Imagine you see a bird looking for twigs for its nest. How can you help without touching the bird? 1. You can gather small, safe twigs and leave them in a pile on the grass. 2. You can move back so the bird feels safe to come and get them. 3. You can watch quietly to see if the bird uses your gift!
How many basic needs do all living things have?
Which of these is a way to help a wild animal?
Plants need us to check their soil to see if they need water.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look at a plant or a pet and try to name the things it needs to stay healthy.
Practice Activity
With a grown-up, find a 'Nature Hero' job to do today, like filling a bird feeder or picking up one piece of trash outside.