Third graders learn that a habitat provides everything an animal needs to survive — food, water, shelter, and space — and that animals are suited to their habitats, so a polar bear thrives in the Arctic but not the desert.
Students will be able to…
A polar bear would overheat in the desert, and a camel would freeze in the Arctic! Every animal has a home that gives it just what it needs. How are animals matched to their habitats?
Project this and match each habitat to an animal that is suited to live there — tap a habitat, then tap the animal.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
A polar bear would bake in the desert, a camel would freeze in the Arctic — why?
Students investigate.
Students explain.
Students elaborate.
Students conclude.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (Grade 3 / Elementary Science).
Construct an argument that in a habitat some organisms survive well, some less well, and some not at all.
Make a claim about a solution to a problem caused by environmental change.
Explain how variation gives some organisms an advantage.
Constructing explanations.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students predict what might happen to animals if their habitat changed — like a forest being cut down — and propose a solution. A printable habitats sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.