Different habitats
This Topic is About...
- I will see how different animals are suited to their habitats.
- I will observe birds and learn how they are suited to their habitats.
- I will see that repeating observations can give us more reliable data.
- I will understand that animals and plants can survive in places that are not their normal habitats.
- I will observe birds eating and classify them according to the shape of their beaks.
- I will present and interpret results on a dot plot.
You’re going to be a science explorer!
Key Words
- coastal area
- earthquake
- epicentre
- focus
- landslide
- transfers
- tsunami
- wave
Tap to Learn the Meanings!
- coastal area: Land near the edge of the sea or ocean.
- earthquake: A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement of the Earth's crust.
- epicentre: The point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake starts.
- focus: The place inside the Earth where an earthquake begins.
- landslide: When rocks or soil move quickly down a slope.
- transfers: Moves or passes from one place to another.
- tsunami: A huge sea wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcano.
- wave: A moving ripple of energy through water or air.
Excellent work learning about earthquakes and waves!
Animals are suited to their habitat
Animals live in a habitat which suits them. For example, fish have an organ called gills. Fish use gills to breathe underwater.
Fish also have fins which help them to swim.
Some types of fish live in warm water and other types of fish live in cold water. Sometimes water becomes warmer or colder because the climate changes. Fish manage to survive small changes like this as long as the changes happen slowly.
FUN QUESTIONS
1. What do fish use to breathe underwater?
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2. Why do fish sometimes have to move very fast? Which part of their bodies do they use to move fast?
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3. Some people keep fish at home in a tank. This is not a normal habitat for a fish. Discuss how the fish survive.
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4. If you buy a fish to keep in a tank at home, why is it important that you keep the fish in a bag of water until you can put it in the tank?
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How are birds suited to their habitat?
Birds have wings which allow them to fly. But birds are suited to different habitats in other ways.
The habitat that a bird lives in affects what the bird eats. Birds which live near a river or sea habitat eat fish.
Birds that live in a grassland habitat eat seeds or insects. Other birds live in a habitat that has lots of trees. They eat fruits, seeds and small animals that live in the trees.
Birds have different sizes and shapes of beaks. These different beaks allow them to catch and eat different foods. Look at these examples:
- A pigeon eats mainly seeds. Look at its beak – it is small and pointed. A pigeon can crack open (break open) seeds with this beak.
- A starling eats insects, worms and berries. A starling’s beak is longer than a sparrow’s beak because a starling eats bigger food. The pointed shape of the beak helps the starling to dig into the surface of the ground to get insects and worms.
- A kingfisher has a large beak with a sharp point. This helps them to catch fish in rivers.
- A flamingo’s beak is very different to that of other birds. Flamingos eat small plants and animals in rivers and dams. A flamingo has a long, flat beak that can strain (sieve) these small plants and animals from the water.
Let’s Investigate!
Question: What can we learn about birds by observing their behaviour and beak shapes?
Equipment: A field, river, garden, or open space where there are birds; a notebook and pencil for recording observations
Method:
- Work with a partner or on your own.
- Observe the birds carefully. Don’t frighten them away! Try to observe at least three different birds. If possible, take photographs.
- Identify the birds. Ask someone for help or look them up in a reference book.
- For each bird, record:
- The shape of its beak
- What the bird is eating
- Make a drawing of the shape of each bird’s beak.
- Describe the bird’s habitat — are there trees, water, grass, or flowers? Is it hot, cold, dry, or wet?
- Classify each bird as a seed eater, fruit eater, worm and insect eater, fish eater, or water plant and animal eater.
- Repeat your observations on different days. Did this give you more reliable data?
- Record your observations in your notebook and share them with the class.
- Draw a dot plot showing the number of each type of bird you saw. Label the x-axis with the bird types (e.g., seed eater, fruit eater).
Reflection: How am I doing?
- Was I patient enough when observing the birds?
- Did I keep still and quiet to avoid disturbing them?
- How could I improve my observation methods next time?
Tap to See Example Answers
- 1: Birds with short, strong beaks often eat seeds. Birds with long, thin beaks may eat insects or nectar.
- 2: Water birds usually have webbed feet and flat beaks for scooping or filtering food.
- 3: Observing birds over several days helps ensure more accurate and consistent data.
- 4: A dot plot shows patterns in the number and types of birds observed, helping you draw conclusions about local habitats.
Excellent work! You’ve observed nature like a real field biologist.
Plants can also survive in places that are not their normal habitat
You have thought about some examples of animals that are surviving in places that are not their normal habitat, such as seagulls in a place far from the sea and fish in tanks.
What about plants? If you have a garden or you visit a park you will see many plants that are not in their natural habitat. For example, some plants may be suited to a wetter habitat. A gardener can water these plants so that they can survive in a habitat that is drier than their natural one.
FUN QUESTIONS
1. Many people keep orchids in pots in their homes. The natural habitat of orchids is a hot, wet forest. How do orchids survive in pots in the home?
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2. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant. Its natural habitat is a warm, wet climate in South East Asia. People all over the world plant bamboo in their gardens. How does the bamboo survive?
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3. Think of plants you have growing at home. How do these plants survive?