Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

Science curriculum for K—5th grades.

90 sec
  • Hands-on — lead students in the doing of science and engineering.
  • NGSS-aligned and Common Core — make the transition to the Next Generation Science Standards and support Common Core.
  • Less prep, more learning — prep in minutes not hours. Captivate your students with short videos and discussion questions.

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Plant & Animal Secrets

Plant & Animal Needs

Kindergarten, 1st Grade

NGSS Standards covered: K-ESS3-3 , K-ESS2-2 , K-ESS3-1 , K-LS1-1
This unit helps students develop the concept that animals and plants need things in order to survive, and their lives are all about meeting those needs… it’s the secret to why they do the many strange and wonderful things that they do! Knowing how they meet their needs can even help students find plants and animals near them. Less
  1. Lessons
  2. Activity Prep
  3. Assessments

Mystery 1: Animal Needs: Food

Exploration (20 min)
Activity: Eat Like an Animal (20 min)
Extras (4 hrs)

Read-Along Mystery 2: Animal Homes

book Book: Who Lives There? (25 min)
Optional Activity: Nature Nuggets (20 min)
Extras (30 min)

Mystery 3: Animal Needs: Safety

Exploration (21 min)
Activity: Gopher in a Hole (17 min)
Extras (2.5 hrs)

Read-Along Mystery 4: Changing the Environment

book Book: Who Lives in that Hole? (20 min)
Optional Activity: Nature Explorers (25 min)
Extras (3.3 hrs)

Mystery 5: Plant Needs: Sunlight

Exploration (25 min)
Activity: Seeds — Light and Dark (30 min)
Extras (1.3 hrs)

Read-Along Mystery 6: Animal Needs & Changing the Environment

book Book: That Old Log (20 min)
Optional Activity: Animal Visitors (25 min)
Extras (4.3 hrs)