What Plants and Animals Need: Kindergarten Study Guide
All living things need certain things to stay alive. Plants and animals do not need exactly the same things.
Living things grow, change, need food and water, and have young. Rocks and toys are non-living. To survive means to stay alive. Animals need food, water, air and shelter (a safe place). Plants need water, air, sunlight and space to grow. Plants make their own food using sunlight, while animals must find food to eat.
A habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives and finds what it needs. A pond is home to frogs, fish and water plants. A forest is home to squirrels, birds and trees.
Comparing needs
| Need | Plants | Animals |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Air | Yes | Yes |
| Sunlight | Yes, to make food | No (but some like warmth) |
| Food | Make their own | Must eat plants or animals |
| Shelter | Soil to hold roots | A safe place to live |
Try an investigation
Plant two bean seeds in cups. Give one cup water and light and place the other in a dark cupboard with water. After a week compare. The one without light is pale and weak. This shows plants need light.
Which will grow better?
Same seeds, same soil, same water; change only the light.
Draw them every two days.
Plants need light to grow strong.
People and nature
People use plants and animals for food, clothes and shelter. We can help by not littering, saving water, planting trees and gardens and caring for pets. Reduce, reuse and recycle to protect habitats. Small actions help the plants and animals that share our world.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: Does a fish need shelter? Yes, such as plants or rocks to hide in. Example: Does a cactus need water? Yes, but only a little. Common mistakes: saying plants eat soil (they take up water and nutrients through roots but make food from sunlight), and thinking all animals need the same food. A cow eats grass, a lion eats meat, a bear eats both.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. Food, water and a safe, warm place to sleep, plus love and exercise. 2. It would turn pale, grow weak and eventually die because it cannot make food. 3. For example, a frog by a pond with water, plants and insects to eat.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Plants need water, air, light and space; animals need food, water, air and shelter.
- A habitat provides what a living thing needs.
- Plants make their own food using sunlight.
- People can help by caring for nature.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Name three things a puppy needs.
- What would happen to a plant that gets no light?
- Draw an animal in its habitat.
Print a science observation log →