Minds On
Our Needs
Did you know that people, animals, and plants need certain things to help them grow and be healthy?
Explore this e-book that shares what people need to grow and be healthy.
Do you think that animals need the same things to grow and be healthy? Why or why not?
Record your answer on the computer, on paper, or in a recording.
Action
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Connecting to the world
The United Nations (UN) is a group of many countries from around the world that have come together to create a better future for people and the environment. They have created 17 goals called the Sustainable Development Goals.
This learning activity is connected to Goal #3 which is called Good Health and Well-being. This means everyone should have what they need to live a healthy life.
It is important that everyone around the world gets what they need to be healthy.
What do animals need to grow and be healthy?
Explore these pictures and explanations to learn what animals need.
Animals need food to eat so they can grow and be healthy.
Animals need water to drink so they can grow and be healthy.
Animals need clean air to breathe so they can grow and be healthy.
Animals need shelter to grow and be healthy.
Animals need to find ways to stay warm, to grow, and be healthy.
Think about it!
What is the same about human needs and animal needs?
What is different about human needs and animal needs?
Record your ideas on the computer, on paper, or in a recording.
The environment
The environment is where a person, animal or plant lives. The environment has what animals and people need to grow and be healthy.
Let’s explore two different environments.
In each environment, take note of how it gives people and animals what they need to grow and be healthy.
This is a forest environment:
An image of a forest environment. There is a person by a small cabin, a chipmunk and a fox in the forest, a bird sitting in its nest, clouds and sun in the sky, a small river and some berries on plants in the forest. The forest is labeled with the word land. The clouds are labeled with the word air. The river is labeled with the word water. The cabin is labeled with the word shelter. The sun is labeled with the word heat. The bird nest is labeled with the word shelter. The berries are labeled with the word food.
Press ‘Answer’ to learn what the forest environment gives animals.
The forest environment gives animals land, air, water, shelter, food, and heat.
This is a snowy environment:
An artic environment. There are clouds and sun in the sky, a polar bear in a cave, a fish jumping out of a lake and snow land beside the small lake. The polar bear’s cave is labeled shelter, the fish jumping out of the water is labeled food, the lake is labeled water, the snowy landscape is labeled land, the clouds are labeled air, and the sun is labeled heat.
Press ‘Answer’ to learn what the snowy environment gives animals.
The snowy environment gives animals shelter, food, water, land, air and heat.
Your turn!
How does this environment meet the needs of people and animals who live here?
Record your ideas on paper, on the computer, or in a recording.
Description
An outdoor environment with a grassy field and a small river running through it. There are fish in the river, and flies and dragonflies in the sky. There is a wooden cabin in the field, and a bird's nest with eggs in the middle of some rocks. The sun is shining.
How could the environment help a bird to grow and be healthy?
Click on each item that can be found in the environment.
Consolidation
A bear’s environment:
Think about what a bear would need to be healthy in their environment and draw some examples.
Hint: Think about what the bear needs.
Complete the Bear Environment Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Sharing our learning
How can you share your learning about how environments help animals and people meet their needs?
What is the best way for you to show someone else this important information?
- Do you enjoy sharing using pictures?
- Do you enjoy written words?
- Do you enjoy sharing using spoken words?
- Could you make a video?
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.