Living Things and Their External Features Unit Plan

 Overview

Objectives

• To activate prior knowledge about living and non-living things.
• To identify that small animals have different external features.
• To investigate the external features of small animals.
• To represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways.
• To identify the external features of an earthworm.
• To identify that living things live in different places where their needs are met.
• To identify the external features of an ant.
• To investigate which foods ants prefer to eat.
• To compare the external features of small animals.

This Science unit provides excellent opportunities for cross-curricular integration. Look for ways to meaningfully integrate the content of the unit with other learning areas e.g. Literacy and The Arts.

Prior to commencing the unit, develop a classroom display which focuses on living things. Display word wall vocabulary and learning goals that the students will engage with throughout the unit to stimulate their learning. For examples of additional teaching resources to display in your classroom, browse the Living and Non-Living Things collection and the Minibeasts collection on the Teach Starter website.

The lessons and science experiments within this unit are structured in accordance with the scientific method. Ensure that the students are familiar with this process before commencing the unit. Alternatively, teach the method concurrently with the relevant lessons.

Some of the resources which accompany this unit plan will need to be prepared prior to teaching. For this reason, it is advised that teachers browse through all lessons before commencing the unit.