Teaching Habitats in Primary Grades

Teaching Habitats in Primary Grades

Hey y'all! We're right in the middle of one of my favorite science units: habitats. The kids are always so excited about this unit and we usually end up doing huge research projects on different animals and habitats.

We start the first week with an overview of what a habitat is. We read books and make a graffiti wall. We read the "What is a Habitat" book, and the kids come up with all kinds of focus questions.

Tuesday through Thursday, students visit a series of stations learning about different habitats. They take notes in their notebooks about the different plants and animals in each habitat, as well as defining characteristics.

On Friday, we do a simple matching activity and students explore more about habitats with different books we've checked out of the library.

The next week, students choose an animal and make an example of the animal's habitat. This can be as simple or intricate as you'd like. Some years, I just have them draw it out on construction paper. Other years, we may build dioramas or bulletin boards for each animal. It just depends on the group of kids and the time we have available that year. At the end, the students write a quick description of how they know their animal belongs in that habitat.

You can check out the full unit here. I'm always adding something new so be sure to follow me on TPT for the latest updates, ideas, and resources. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week! I'll talk to you soon. 

Stay cozy,