Grade 2
The Human Knowledge Project
Unit 10 — Plants and Animals
Welcome back!
Our world is filled with living things.
Plants and animals come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors.
Although they are different in many ways, all living things have basic needs.
Today we will discover how living things grow, survive, and depend upon one another.
Living Things
Living things have certain characteristics.
They:
- grow
- need food or energy
- need water
- respond to their surroundings
- reproduce
- eventually die
Plants, animals, and people are all living things.
Plants
Plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and air.
Different plants include:
- trees
- flowers
- grasses
- vegetables
- bushes
Plants also provide food and shelter for many animals.
Without plants, life on Earth would be very different.
Animals
Animals cannot make their own food.
They depend on plants or other animals for energy.
Animals can be grouped in many ways.
Some are:
- mammals
- birds
- fish
- reptiles
- amphibians
- insects
Each group has special characteristics.
Life Cycles
Living things change as they grow.
A butterfly begins as:
- an egg
- a caterpillar
- a chrysalis
- an adult butterfly
Many plants also follow a life cycle.
A seed grows into a plant, produces new seeds, and the cycle begins again.
Habitats
A habitat is the natural home of a living thing.
Habitats provide:
- food
- water
- shelter
- space
Examples include:
- forests
- oceans
- deserts
- ponds
- grasslands
Different habitats support different kinds of life.
Food Chains
Living things depend on one another.
A simple food chain might be:
Grass
↓
Rabbit
↓
Fox
Plants capture energy from the Sun.
Animals receive energy by eating plants or other animals.
This connects all living things.
Caring for Living Things
People can help protect nature by:
- planting trees
- conserving water
- recycling
- reducing pollution
- respecting wildlife
- protecting habitats
Healthy ecosystems benefit everyone.
Activity
Choose one plant or animal.
Draw it.
Then answer:
- Where does it live?
- What does it eat?
- What does it need to survive?
- How does it help nature?
Share your drawing with someone.
Practice
Answer these questions.
What makes something a living thing?
Name three kinds of plants.
Name four groups of animals.
What is a habitat?
Why are plants important?
Review
Today you learned:
- living things share basic characteristics
- plants make their own food
- animals depend on other living things
- every living thing has a life cycle
- habitats provide what living things need
- people can help protect nature
The more we understand living things, the better we can care for our world.
Looking Ahead
Next we will investigate matter and energy.
We will discover solids, liquids, gases, light, heat, and sound—and how they affect our daily lives.