# Lesson 125: Animals and their homes

🔬 SCIENCE (40 Lessons) • 🟢 A. Living and Nonliving

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## 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

Animals are living things. They need a good place to live, just like we need a home.

Animal homes help them:

- Stay safe from rain, wind, and hot sun.
- Hide from danger and bigger animals.
- Stay close to food and water.
- Have a quiet place to rest and raise babies.

Different animals, different homes

- A bird often lives in a nest in a tree.
- A rabbit can hide in a burrow under the ground.
- A fox may sleep in a den in a cave or hole.
- A fish lives in water like a pond, river, or sea.
- A spider spins a web to catch insects.
- A dog may sleep in a house or a dog bed inside our home.

Some homes are made, some are found

- Some animals build their homes (like birds and spiders).
- Some animals find a safe place (like a cave or a hollow tree).

In this lesson, we will match animals to their homes and explain why that home is a good place for the animal to live.

Picture strip: Animals and their homes

In the wild

Water and home

## 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
Trace
Pen

## 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.

1) Why do animals need a home?

Only to learn math. To stay safe and rest. So they never eat.
A home helps animals stay safe, rest, and be near food and water.

2) Which home is best for a bird?

A nest in a tree. A pond under water. A cave under ground.
Birds usually live in nests in trees or other high places.

3) Which animal would most likely live in a burrow?

Fish Spider Rabbit
Rabbits often hide and rest in burrows under the ground.

4) Which home is best for a fish?

Nest in a tree. Pond or river. Dog bed.
Fish need water, so a pond or river is the best home.

5) A spider spins a web. Why?

To catch food and have a home. To swim in water. To fly like a bird.
A web is the spider's home and helps it catch insects to eat.

6) Which home would keep a fox safest?

On top of a pond. In a bird cage. In a den in a cave or hole.
A den in a cave or hole gives a fox shelter and a place to hide.

7) A dog lives with a family. Where might it sleep?

At the bottom of a pond. In a house or dog bed. In a bird nest.
Dogs usually sleep in a house, dog bed, or dog house.

8) Which pair matches?

Bird — nest Fish — den Rabbit — pond
Birds live in nests. Fish need water and rabbits use burrows.

9) Which pair does not match?

Rabbit — burrow Fish — water Dog — pond
A dog cannot live in a pond. It needs land and a dry place.

10) What is one thing all animal homes give?

Homework. A place to rest. A swimming pool.
All animal homes give a place to rest, even if they look different.

11) Why would a rabbit not live in a tree nest?

It cannot climb and needs ground. It likes to swim. It can fly.
Rabbits stay on the ground and hide under it in burrows.

12) A fish out of water is not safe. What does this tell us?

Homes never matter. All animals like the same home. Animals need the right home to stay alive.
Animals need homes that fit their bodies and needs.

13) Which sentence is true?

All animals live in houses. Different animals have different homes. Only people need homes.
Different animals need different homes, like nests, burrows, and ponds.

14) Why do we learn about animal homes?

To understand animals and care for nature. So we never go outside. Only to name ponds.
Knowing animal homes helps us care for animals and their habitats.

15) Which best explains what an animal home is?

A place where toys live. A safe place where an animal lives and finds what it needs. A room with only books.
An animal home is a safe place where the animal can live and get food and water.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can explain why animals need homes (safety, rest, food, and water). Student can correctly match several animals to their homes. Student can say why a home is a good match for a particular animal. Student can identify when a home is not right for an animal and explain why. Student can talk about animal homes near their own home or school.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can match animals to their homes and explain why. 🙂 I can match some animals to their homes but still need practice. 😅 Animal homes still feel a bit tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Matching animals to the right homes Explaining why a home is good for an animal Finding animal homes around my home or school
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