Investigation Lab: Animal Homes

Learn

Scientists learn about animals by observing them carefully. In this lesson, you will become a scientist and investigate what animals need in their homes!

What is an Investigation?

An investigation is when we look closely, ask questions, and find answers. Scientists use investigations to learn new things about the world.

What Do Animals Need in Their Habitat?

All animals need four things to survive in their habitat:

Food - Something to eat
Water - Something to drink
Shelter - A safe place to live
Space - Room to move around

Investigation Question

Today we will investigate: "How do different animals find what they need in their habitat?"

Science Tools We Use

Eyes - To observe and look carefully
Pencil - To record what we see
Pictures - To study animals we cannot visit

Examples

Let's observe three different animals and investigate how they get what they need!

Example 1: A Squirrel in the Forest

Need	How the Squirrel Gets It
Food	Collects acorns and nuts from trees
Water	Drinks from streams and puddles
Shelter	Builds a nest in tree branches
Space	Runs and climbs through the forest

Example 2: A Fish in the Ocean

Need	How the Fish Gets It
Food	Eats tiny plants and smaller fish
Water	Lives in the water all the time
Shelter	Hides in coral reefs and seaweed
Space	Swims through the open ocean

Example 3: A Rabbit in a Meadow

Need	How the Rabbit Gets It
Food	Eats grass, clover, and vegetables
Water	Drinks morning dew and from streams
Shelter	Digs a burrow underground
Space	Hops through the meadow and fields

Practice

Now it's your turn to investigate! Answer these questions about animal habitats.

1. What are the FOUR things all animals need to survive?

Think about what you learned in the "Learn" section.

2. A bird lives in a tree. Where does it find shelter?

A) In the water B) In a nest C) Underground D) In a cave

3. A polar bear lives where it is very cold. What might it eat?

A) Bananas B) Fish and seals C) Leaves D) Grass

4. True or False: A fish can live in a desert habitat.

5. Where would a frog find water in its habitat?

A) In the desert B) In a pond or stream C) On a mountain top D) In outer space

6. An ant needs space to move around. Where do ants live?

A) In tunnels underground B) In the clouds C) In the ocean D) On the moon

7. Draw and label a picture of a habitat. Show where an animal would find food, water, shelter, and space.

8. A deer lives in the forest. Match each need to how the deer meets it:

Food: _____
Water: _____
Shelter: _____
Space: _____

Choices: Drinks from streams | Eats plants and leaves | Runs through the trees | Rests under thick bushes

9. What would happen if an animal could NOT find water in its habitat?

A) It would be very happy B) It would get sick or have to move C) Nothing would change D) It would grow bigger

10. You are a scientist! Observe an animal near your home (a bird, squirrel, insect, or pet). Write or draw how it gets food.

Check Your Understanding

Answer these questions to show what you learned about investigating animal habitats.

Question 1: What does the word "investigate" mean?

Show Answer

To investigate means to look closely, ask questions, and find answers - just like a scientist!

Question 2: Name the four things every animal needs in its habitat.

Show Answer

Food, water, shelter, and space.

Question 3: Why do scientists observe animals carefully?

Show Answer

Scientists observe animals carefully to learn new things about how animals live and what they need.

Next Steps

Practice observing animals in your backyard, park, or neighborhood
Ask questions about what you see - that's what scientists do!
Continue to the next lesson to learn about organizing your observations with data and graphs