In this Living Things unit, students observe and explore the external features of plants and animals. This unit explains the important jobs of these features and how they help animals to survive. Students will engage in a range of hands on activities to explore and group these living things based on their features. Students create their own creatures with a unique set of features to demonstrate their understanding of the unit. 

Australian Curriculum - (QLD/SA/WA/NT/TAS/ACT)

AC9S1U01

Identify the basic needs of plants and animals, including air, water, food or shelter, and describe how the places they live meet those needs

AC9SFH01

Explore the ways people make and use observations and questions to learn about the natural world

AC9SFI01

Pose questions and make predictions based on experiences

AC9SFI02

Engage in investigations safely and make observations using their senses

AC9SFI03

Represent observations in provided templates and identify patterns with guidance

AC9SFI04

Compare observations with predictions with guidance

AC9SFI05

Share questions, predictions, observations and ideas with others

AC9SFU01

Observe external features of plants and animals and describe ways they can be grouped based on these features

ACSSU002

Living things have basic needs, including food and water

ACSHE013

Science involves observing, asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events

ACSIS014

Pose and respond to questions about familiar objects and events

ACSIS011

Participate in guided investigations and make observations using the senses

ACSIS233

Engage in discussions about observations and represent ideas

ACSIS012

Share observations and ideas

NSW

STe-1WS-S

Observes, questions and collects data to communicate ideas

STe-2DP-T

Develops solutions to an identified need

STe-3LW-ST

Explores the characteristics, needs and uses of living things

STe-6ES-S

Identifies how daily and seasonal changes in the environment affect humans and other living things

STe-7DI-T

Identifies digital systems and explores how instructions are used to control digital devices

STe-5PW-ST

Observes the way objects move and relates changes in motion to push and pull forces

STe-4MW-ST

Identifies that objects are made of materials that have observable properties

VIC

VCSSU042

Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met

VCSIS050

Respond to and pose questions, and make predictions about familiar objects and events

VCSIS051

Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions

VCSIS055

Represent and communicate observations and ideas about changes in objects and events in a variety of ways

Overview

The key concepts in this unit include:
 

  • Students identify the external features of plants and animals. 
  • Students share and reflect on observations. 
Learning Intention
  • We are learning to understand that the basic needs of plants and animals are air, water, food and shelter.
  • We are learning to observe the features of plants and animals and to understand their differences.
  • We are learning to observe the features of plants and animals and to understand their differences.
Lessons
Linked Resources & Activities
Linked Worksheets

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