Year 2 · Science · Biological sciences
Habitats of Australian animals
Children match native animals to habitats such as the bush, rivers, deserts and the ocean, and talk about how habitats meet their needs.
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These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to UK year groups by age (Year 1 is the year a child turns 6 in England). They are not mapped to the National Curriculum in England or the curricula of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, so check them against your own plans.
This lesson uses some Australian examples (places, animals or contexts). Swap in local examples from the UK as you teach.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Explain that a habitat is the place where an animal lives.
- Match native animals to habitats such as the bush, rivers, deserts and the ocean.
- Describe how a habitat gives an animal food, water and shelter.
Success looks like
- I can say what a habitat is.
- I can match an animal to the habitat where it lives.
- I can say how a habitat meets an animal's needs.
The big idea
A habitat is the place where an animal lives. A good habitat gives an animal everything it needs: food, water, air and shelter.
Native animals are animals that have lived naturally in a place for a very long time. Every part of the world has its own native animals.
The bush has lots of trees and shrubs. Birds such as owls shelter in tree hollows. Insects, lizards and small furry animals find food among the leaves, flowers and logs.
Rivers, creeks and ponds are fresh-water habitats. Fish, frogs, ducks and turtles live there. Frogs lay their eggs in the water, and ducks find plants and small animals to eat.
Deserts are very dry and can be very hot in the day. Lizards and snakes live there. Many desert animals hide in burrows or under rocks during the heat and come out when it is cooler.
The ocean is salty water. Fish, dolphins, whales, crabs and sea turtles live there. Dolphins and whales must come to the surface to breathe air.
An animal's features suit its habitat. A fish could not live in a desert, and a lizard could not live under the sea. When a habitat is damaged, animals can lose their food or shelter.
Worked examples
Where does a frog live?
Which habitat suits a frog, and why?
- Frogs lay their eggs in water and tadpoles live in water.
- Frogs need damp skin, so they stay near water.
- They eat insects that live near ponds and creeks.
Answer: A river, creek or pond, because it gives water for eggs, damp places and insects to eat.
A lizard in the desert
How does a lizard manage in a hot, dry desert?
- Its scaly skin helps stop its body drying out.
- When it is very hot, it hides under rocks or in a burrow (shelter).
- It eats insects that live in the desert.
Answer: Its scales keep water in, rocks and burrows give shelter, and insects give food.
A dolphin in the ocean
How does the ocean meet a dolphin's needs?
- Food: the ocean is full of fish to eat.
- Air: the dolphin swims up to the surface to breathe.
- Moving: its flippers and tail are made for swimming.
Answer: The ocean gives it fish to eat and room to swim, and it breathes air at the surface.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which habitat is very dry and gets little rain?
Desert — A desert gets very little rain.
Where does a whale live?
Ocean — Whales live in the ocean.
What does a good habitat give an animal?
Food, water and shelter — A habitat meets an animal's needs: food, water, air and shelter.
Where might an owl shelter in the bush?
In a tree hollow — Owls often rest in hollows in old trees.
Where does a frog lay its eggs?
In water — Frog eggs need water, and tadpoles live in water.
The place where an animal lives is called its ____.
habitat — A habitat is an animal's home in nature.
Do fish live in rivers or in deserts?
rivers — Fish need water to live.
An animal that has lived naturally in a place for a very long time is a n____ animal.
native — These are called native animals.
Watch out for
- Children may think animals can live anywhere. Each animal needs a habitat that matches its body and needs.
- Some children think a zoo is an animal's habitat. A zoo enclosure is made to copy part of the animal's real habitat.
- Children may think each animal uses only one place. Ducks and frogs use both water and land.
Tips for parents
- Find out which native animals live near you and look for them on walks.
- When reading animal books, ask 'Where does it live? What does it eat? Where does it sleep?'
- Safety: watch wild animals from a distance, never put hands into holes or logs, and stay with an adult near water.
Go further
- Make a habitat scene in a shoebox for one animal, showing its food, water and shelter.
- Visit a park, creek or beach and count how many different animals you see or hear.
- Draw an animal in the wrong habitat (like a fish in the desert) and explain why it would struggle.
About 35 minutes
You'll need
- Four large sheets of paper labelled bush, river, desert and ocean (or drawn habitat scenes)
- Animal pictures cut from magazines or drawn: owl, frog, duck, fish, lizard, snake, dolphin, crab, whale
- Glue stick and crayons
Key words
- habitat
- The place where an animal or plant lives and finds what it needs.
- native animal
- An animal that has lived naturally in a place for a very long time.
- bush
- Wild land covered with trees and shrubs, like a forest or woodland.
- desert
- A very dry place that gets little rain.
- ocean
- The huge area of salty water that covers most of Earth.
- shelter
- A safe place to rest and hide, such as a nest, burrow or tree hollow.
Still tricky?
For parents
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