In Science, Year Two have been learning all about living things. They have explored what a plant or animal needs to survive and how they adapt to their environment.
To begin, the children discussed whether something was alive, dead or had never been alive. They were able to identify living things from the life processes – grow, feed and move (etc.). They explored how plants are alive but show this in a different way to an animal or human. The boys and girls were intrigued to learn that when an apple is growing on a tree it is alive but, as soon as it is picked, it is then dead.
Next, Year Two learned about habitats (a place where an animal or plant lives). They looked in detail at four habitats – the desert, a rainforest, the Arctic and a polar habitat – and matched the animals that live there. They then discussed how an animal is adapted to live in a particular habitat. The children could explain that a polar bear has wide feet to walk on snow whereas a camel has wide feet to walk on sand.
The boys and girls then thought about what an animal needs to survive and how this is different from something we want. They learned that animals need food, water, shelter and air to survive and compared how this might look different for a human and a dog (e.g. a house and a kennel). The boys and girls discussed that although it is lovely to have toys and technology, we don’t need these things to survive.
Finally, Year Two learned about microhabitats – a very small part of a habitat. They looked at minibeasts found under fallen leaves, in a rotten log and among grass. The children learned that some minibeasts can be found in more than one habitat. They then discussed what might happen to an animals’ habitat and what they could do to protect it. Using a paper cup, paper tubes and leaves, the children made a bug hotel perfect for any minibeasts in search of home.
