An animal is a living thing that moves and eats other animals or plants.

Living things are alive. They grow, sense, reproduce, move, feed and excrete waste material.

A living thing's basic needs must be met in order for them to stay alive.

The basic needs of animals

Science

In this New life unit, pupils learnt that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults. In the Reproduction and life cycles unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to describe the differences in life cycles of different animal groups

In the Naming and grouping animals unit, pupils learnt to identify and name a variety of common animals. In this New life unit. pupils will build on this knowledge to learn that animals have basic needs for survival (water, food and air)

New life

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Animals need food and water to survive. What does survive mean?

Basic needs are the things an animal needs to stay alive.

Basic needs are the things an animal needs to sleep well.

Basic needs are the things an animal needs to stay clean.

All animals have basic needs. What are basic needs?

False. Fish use their gills to take in the air in the water.

True or false? Fish live underwater so they do not need air.

Sofia has a new puppy. What does the puppy need to stay alive?

A life cycle shows how an animal grows and changes from birth.

A life cycle shows each year of an animal's life.

A life cycle shows where an animal lives.

True or false? Animals stay the same at every stage of their life cycle.

Scientists look closely at animals to see how they grow and change over time. Which skill are they using?

Which of these things do humans need to stay alive?

Looking closely and noticing any changes.

Keeping information so it can be passed on to others.

Scientists record information about an animal's life cycle. What does record mean?

Using the internet to find out about different sorts of butterflies.

Taking photos, videos, creating drawings or keeping a butterfly diary.

Looking in non-fiction books to find out about caterpillars.

Looking closely at the caterpillars as they grow and change.

Laura is observing caterpillars as they change and grow into butterflies. How could she record a butterfly's life cycle?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The basic needs of animals

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.