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Week 2: Survival Needs

Weekly Focus

Children explore what it means to survive and investigate the basic needs of plants and animals, including water, light, food, and shelter through hands-on experiments and activities.

Week at a Glance

  • Understand what "survive" means
  • Recognize that all living things need water
  • Learn that plants need light to live and grow
  • Understand that animals need food to survive
Kindergarten students learning about plant and animal needs

Weekly Overview

Theme

Survival Needs

Focus Areas

  • Survival basics
  • Plant needs
  • Animal needs
  • Food chains

Key Vocabulary

survivewaterlightfoodshelterairsoilsunlightnutrientsgrowth

Plant Experiments

When conducting plant experiments, use clear plastic cups so children can observe root development. Label each plant with the variable being tested (e.g., 'No Water,' 'No Light'). Take photos every few days to document changes over time, and create a class book of observations. This helps children visualize the effects of different conditions on plant growth.

Daily Plans

Monday: What Does It Mean to Survive?

Daily schedule and activities

Morning Activity

Morning Circle: Introduce the concept of survival through scenarios

Literacy Focus

Watch video about survival needs of living things

Math Focus

Count and sort picture cards of survival needs

Afternoon Activity

Create a class chart about what it means to survive

Materials Needed

  • Video about survival
  • Picture cards of survival needs
  • Chart paper
  • Art supplies
  • Scenario cards

Assessment Notes

Observe students' understanding of the concept of survival and their ability to identify basic survival needs.

Featured Activities

Plant Survival Experiment

Students set up an experiment with multiple plants in different conditions (with/without water, with/without light) and observe the results over several days.

Duration

Initial setup: 30 minutes, Daily observations: 10 minutes

Materials

  • Small plants or seeds
  • Clear cups
  • Soil
  • Water
  • Observation journals
  • Markers

Learning Areas

Science
Observation Skills
Recording Data

Plant Shop Dramatic Play

Students explore different plant needs through a dramatic play plant shop, where they 'purchase' items plants need to survive like sunlight, water, and soil.

Duration

Ongoing center

Materials

  • Play money
  • Plant pictures
  • Price tags
  • Shop signs
  • Plant care cards

Learning Areas

Dramatic Play
Science
Math

Animal Food Sorting

Students sort pictures of animals based on what they eat (plants, other animals, or both) and create a collaborative chart.

Duration

35 minutes

Materials

  • Animal pictures
  • Food pictures
  • Sorting mats
  • Chart paper
  • Glue

Learning Areas

Science
Classification
Collaboration

Survival Obstacle Course

Students move through an obstacle course that simulates how plants get what they need (reaching for sunlight, finding water) and how animals find food and shelter.

Duration

45 minutes

Materials

  • Tunnels
  • Cones
  • Toy sun
  • Water jugs
  • Animal masks

Learning Areas

Physical Development
Science
Role Play

Making Abstract Concepts Concrete

The concept of 'survival' can be abstract for young children. Make it concrete by relating it to their daily experiences: 'Just like you need food when you're hungry and water when you're thirsty, plants and animals need certain things to stay alive and healthy.' Use simple analogies that connect to children's lives, such as comparing a plant's need for water to their own need for water when they're thirsty.

Resources

Books

  • "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle
  • "From Seed to Plant" by Gail Gibbons
  • "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle
  • "What Do Living Things Need?" by Elizabeth Austen
  • "I Can't Live Here" by Pamela Hickman

Printables

  • Plant needs observation sheets
  • Animal food sorting cards
  • Plant and animal needs comparison chart
  • Survival needs checklist
  • Plant growth recording sheets

Home Connection

Send home a family activity sheet that encourages parents/caregivers to help their child identify and care for living things at home, focusing on what plants and pets need to survive.

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