Lesson Plan

Animals' Needs

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Animals' Needs lesson plan also includes:

Explore the wonderful world of earthworms as your class learns about the requirements of animal life. After building soda bottle terrariums, students observe worms over the course of a couple weeks, building an understanding that all animals need food and water to survive. Consider swapping out the worms for a different animal to make for more meaningful and interesting observations. The lesson does require a fair amount of preparation, so be sure to plan ahead.

1 Collection 233 Views 131 Downloads NGSS: Adaptable
Pros
  • Earthworm experiment engages children in learning about animal life
  • The needs of animals are clearly demonstrated by comparing a living earthworm to a gummy worm
  • Includes an activity that outlines the step-by-step instructions for building a terrarium
Cons
  • Building the terrariums requires numerous materials not typically found in a classroom
  • Requires explicit instruction regarding how earthworms acquire the air they need to survive
NGSS