Homes in Nature

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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What Is a Habitat?

A habitat is the place where a living thing lives. It gives everything that living thing needs to survive.

That includes:

• food

• water

• shelter

• space

If even one of these is missing, it becomes very hard for a living thing to survive.

Your home is your habitat. A bird’s nest is its habitat. A worm under a rock has a habitat, too.

Habitats can be big or small.

An entire ocean is a habitat.

The space under a single rock is also a habitat.

Living and Nonliving Parts

Habitats are made up of two kinds of things:

Living things:

• plants

• animals

• insects

Nonliving things:

• sunlight

• water

• air

• soil

• temperature

These nonliving parts are just as important. For example, a cactus can live in a hot, dry desert. But that same cactus would not survive in a freezing, snowy place.

Every habitat has its own mix of living and nonliving parts.

Habitats Are Everywhere

Habitats are not just faraway places like jungles or oceans. They are all around you.

Here are some common types of habitats.

Deserts

Deserts are very dry. Some are hot, and some are cold. They get very little rain. Animals like snakes, lizards, and camels live there.

Forests

Forests have lots of trees and plants. Some get a lot of rain, while others have seasons. Animals like deer, birds, and bears live in forests.

Grasslands

Grasslands have wide open spaces with lots of grass but not many trees. Animals like lions, antelope, and squirrels live here.

Mountains and Polar Regions

These places can be very cold and windy. Animals that live here are built to survive harsh weather, like polar bears and mountain goats.

Water Habitats

Lakes, rivers, and oceans are habitats, too. Fish, whales, and many other animals live in water. The ocean is the largest habitat on Earth.

Cities and Farms

Even places where people live are habitats. Humans, pets, birds, insects, and small animals all share these spaces.

Why Habitats Matter

Every living thing depends on its habitat.

If a habitat changes too much, the living things inside it may not survive. For example:

• If a pond dries up, fish cannot live there anymore.

• If a forest loses its trees, animals may lose their homes.

Habitats help keep life going.

Your Turn to Think

Think about your own habitat.

• Where do you live?

• What do you need to survive there?

• Are there plants or animals nearby?

You are part of a habitat, just like every other living thing.

You just learned what a habitat is, what it includes, and where habitats can be found.

Next, it’s time to test your thinking and explore habitats more closely in the Got It? section.