Plants and animals live together in habitats. A habitat contains all of the things they need to survive; food, water, shelter and space. Within the habitat, the living things depend on each other; for example, a bird needs a tree for a place to build a nest.
When a change is made to a habitat, it can affect all of the living things that live there.
Teach your children about habitats using our handy topic guide!
Teaching Ideas
- Start your habitats topic with this lesson from the RSPCA, exploring what a habitat is and looking at local habitats.
- Carry out a habitat survey.
- Find out what trees are living in a habitat, with this Woodland Trust Leaf ID sheet.
- Ask children to match up different habitats to the animals that live there with this sheet.
- Study the shoreline with this amazing lesson pack from the Young People’s Trust for the Environment.
- In groups, give the children the cards from our Animal Adaptations Matching Activity; can they match the adaptation to the animal?
Resources
- Download our popular Habitats Pack, with a teaching guide and lots of resources.
- Use our 16 habitat photos for discussion and display.
- Download a short scheme of work, looking at the animals and plants in a habitat, and the food chains.
- Brighten up your display boards with these habitats banners.
- The Wildwood Trust habitats pack has useful resources to investigate habitats.
Habitats Facts
- A habitat is any environment where plants and animals live.
- There are lots of different habitats on earth. A micro-habitat can be as small as the area under a stone or a rock pool.
- Symbiosis is what happens when two organisms in a habitat benefit each other. For example, an anemone protects a clownfish from predators with its tentacles, while the clownfish protects the anemone from other fish.
- A food chain or food web shows how plants and animals get their energy.
- Animals and plants are adapted to live in their habitat. For example, an arctic fox has white fur to blend into the snowy landscape.
Videos
What is a habitat?
Learn about how a habitat provides the basic needs for all living things and how plants and animals depend on each other.
Running time: 5:45
How animals adapt to their environment
Find out how Abdul the camel is adapted to his environment.
Running time: 2:44
Habitats Song
Learn about different habitats with this fun song.
Running time: 3:30
Books
The Animals of Farthing Wood
In this classic children’s book, the animals of Farthing Wood have to find a new home when the wood is bulldozed.
Tarka the Otter
See the habitat of the Devon countryside through the eyes of an otter in this much loved book.
One World
A brother and sister explore the life in a rock poll, and begin to understand how pollution affects the planet.
Bee and Me
When a little girl traps a bee, they go on an adventure to learn about the bee’s role in nature, in this stunning wordless book.
The Wilderness War
When their wilderness is sold for development, a group of friends go to war to save it.
Habitats and Food Chains
Explore habitats and food chains around the world.
Habitats
Improve your scientific skills and your understanding of habitats with this book.
Into The Forest
Explore the rich and varied forest habitat with this book from the Woodland Trust.
How to Help a Hedgehog and Protect a Polar Bear
Explore the rich and varied forest habitat.
Links
- The WWT home learning site has plenty of ideas for investigating habitats.
- Explore land habitats on the DKfindout! site.
- Visit the RSPB site to learn more about habitats in the UK.
- Learn about habitats around the world with the Galaxy Pugs.
- Explore the food chains of the Savannah in this online activity.
- Older primary children will enjoy exploring habitats the the Earth Squad.
Are you teaching your children about other topics? Explore our full collection of guides!
