Living Things and Their External Features: Year 1 Study Guide
Living things have features we can see on the outside, and each feature has a job.
Plants and animals are alive. They have external features, body parts we can see and describe, like fur, scales, feathers, wings, legs, leaves and flowers. These features help them eat, move, stay safe and live in their habitat.
Scientists observe carefully, which means they look closely, use their senses (safely) and record what they see, often with drawings and labels. Then they sort living things into groups.
Features and their jobs
| Living thing | Feature | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Kangaroo | Strong back legs and tail | Hopping fast and balancing |
| Kookaburra | Strong beak | Catching food |
| Frill-necked lizard | Frill | Scaring off predators |
| Gum tree | Bark | Protects the tree |
| Wattle | Small leaves | Saves water in dry weather |
Sorting living things
Animals can be sorted by features: fur (kangaroo, koala), feathers (emu, magpie), scales (lizard, fish) and shells (snail, turtle). Plants can be sorted by leaf shape, flowers or whether they are trees or shrubs. There is no one right way: you choose a rule and use it consistently.
Look at each animal's cover and body parts.
Does it have feathers?
Put each in a yes or no group.
Why did it go there?
Why features suit the environment
A fish's fins and streamlined body help it swim, and its gills let it breathe. A camel's long eyelashes keep sand out of its eyes. In the Australian bush, many animals are active at night when it is cooler. Features help living things survive where they live, and when a habitat changes, some may struggle.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: Why does a duck have webbed feet? For paddling in the water. Example: Is a spider an insect? No, it has eight legs. Common mistakes: saying that animals grow a feature because they 'need' it, and thinking only animals have features. Plants have many too: roots, stems, leaves and flowers.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. Wings for flying and a beak for eating. 2. Feathers: emu, magpie. Scales: lizard. Fur: kangaroo. 3. Fins help a fish steer and swim through the water.
✨ Key Takeaways
- External features are the parts we can see.
- Features help living things survive.
- Sort by a clear rule.
- Observe carefully with drawings and labels.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Name two features of a bird and their jobs.
- Sort these into groups: emu, lizard, kangaroo, magpie.
- How do a fish's fins help it?
Print a science observation log →