Build a Model Habitat
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What you will learn
- 1Define what a habitat is and explain why animals need one
- 2Identify the four things a habitat must provide
- 3Plan and build a model habitat for a chosen animal
Mini Lesson
A habitat is the natural environment where an animal or plant lives. It supplies everything the organism needs to survive. Different animals have different habitat requirements, which is why a polar bear cannot live in a rainforest, and a dolphin cannot survive in a desert.
The Four Things a Habitat Provides
- Food — plants to eat, prey to hunt, or decomposing matter.
- Water — rivers, rain, dew, or moisture in food.
- Shelter — trees, burrows, caves, or coral reefs.
- Space — enough room to find food, reproduce, and move freely.
Types of Habitats
- Forest — dense trees, moist soil, varied wildlife.
- Ocean — saltwater, coral reefs, open water.
- Desert — dry, sandy, extreme temperatures.
- Wetland — muddy, water-logged, rich in reeds and water birds.
- Grassland — flat, open, grasses, herds of large animals.
Words to know
habitat
the natural home of an animal or plant
ecosystem
all the living things and their environment in one area
adaptation
a feature that helps an organism survive in its habitat
When presenting your model, name the animal, describe its habitat type, and point to each feature (food, water, shelter, space) that you included.
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