Lesson 125: Animals and their homes

Objective

I can match animals to their homes and tell how each home helps the animal. I can say that animals need homes to stay safe, find food, and have a place to rest and raise their young.

Materials

• Picture cards or drawings of animals (bird, rabbit, fox, fish, dog, spider, etc.)
• Picture cards or drawings of homes (nest, burrow, den, pond, barn, web, tree, etc.)
• Pencil and notebook or scrap paper

Mini-lesson — Why animals need homes

Guided Practice — Match animals to their homes

You will use pictures or simple drawings to match animals to their homes. Then you will use the tracing pad to practise key words.

1. Make two rows: In the top row, draw or place pictures of animals (for example: bird, rabbit, fox, fish, dog, spider). In the bottom row, draw or place pictures of homes (nest, burrow, den, pond, house, web).
2. Match with lines: Draw a line from each animal to its home. Talk about each match out loud (for example: "The bird lives in a nest in the tree.").
3. Check the reason: For each pair, say why it is a good home (for example: "The burrow keeps the rabbit safe under the ground.").
4. Wrong home challenge: Pick one animal and pretend to put it in the wrong home. Explain why that would not work (for example: "A fish cannot live in a nest.").
5. Use the tracing pad: Choose short words like nest, den, burrow, web, or home from the dropdown and trace them slowly while you say them.
6. Write one sentence: Under your picture, write a simple sentence, such as "A fox sleeps in a den." or "A spider spins a web."

Tracing Pad

Lines Primary lines Baseline only Grid Blank Trace (none) nest den burrow web home pond tree fox bird fish

Pen Clear

Tip: After you trace the words, write one short sentence that tells which animal lives in that kind of home.

Practice 1 — Draw and label animal homes

Draw at least four animals and their homes. Use arrows or labels to show which home belongs to which animal.

1. Draw a small bird and its nest in a tree.
2. Draw a rabbit and its burrow under the ground.
3. Draw a fish and its pond or river.
4. Draw a dog and its house or bed.

Under each picture, write a short label such as "bird in nest" or "fish in pond".

Practice 2 — Which home is best?

For each animal, choose the best home and explain why. You can say your answers out loud or write them down.

• A bird chooses between a nest in a tree, a hole in the water, or a chair in a room. Which is best? Why?
• A fish chooses between a pond, a nest in a tree, or a bed.
• A rabbit chooses between a burrow, a web, or a tall tree branch.
• A dog chooses between a house, a pond, or a tiny web.

Use words like safe, dry, warm, and can breathe to explain your choice.

Practice 3 — Homes near you

Think about animals that might live near your home or school.

1. Make a list of 3–5 animals you know (for example: bird, cat, dog, ant).
2. Next to each animal, write or say where it might sleep or live.
3. Choose one animal and draw a big picture of its home. Add small details that show why it is a good place (branches, water, grass, walls, etc.).

Quick Check — Animals and their homes

Answer each question about animals and their homes. You can point to pictures or think of real animals you know.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)