Curriculum

What Do Plants And Animals Need To Live?

What Do Plants And Animals Need To Live?

What Do Plants and Animals Need to Live? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of kindergarten life science and earth science standards. In this module, students:

  • Plan and carry out investigations to answer questions about what plants need to live.
  • Use evidence from observations and text to support an argument about what caterpillars need to live and grow.
  • Develop and use models to show how caterpillars’ webs help them get what they need to live and grow.
  • Communicate a solution that reduces the impact of a sidewalk on a tree’s ability to get what it needs.
  • Develop and use a model to determine which plan to build a play area is best for the system of living things on a piece of land.

Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.

Lesson 1: A Mystery at School

Family Letter
Prior to starting this module share the Family Letter with students’ families. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Download the English Version of the Family Letter PDF
Download Spanish Version of the Family Letter PDF

Ada Asks Introduction (1:01 minutes)
In this video Ada shares observations about her unhealthy radish plants. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.

Watch on YouTube

or Download the Ada Asks Introduction Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Introduction Video
Download the Ada Asks Introduction transcript

Healthy Plant
This file shows a healthy radish plant.
Download the Healthy Plant PDF

Pick Your Plants
This file shows artwork of plants from the Smithsonian Institution.
Download the Pick Your Plants PDF

Lesson 2: Making a Plant Plan

Root Vegetable Roundup
This file shows images of root vegetables.
Download the Root Vegetable Roundup PDF

Lesson 4: Hungry, Hungry Caterpillars

Ada Asks Caterpillar (0:46 minutes)
In this video Ada explains that she is going on a trip and needs the class to take care of her caterpillars. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.

Watch on YouTube

or Download the Ada Asks Caterpillar Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Caterpillar Video
Download the Ada Asks Caterpillar Transcript

This video is intended to look like it is malfunctioning. Please read the lesson description for further details.

Caterpillar
These are photos of a painted lady larva (caterpillar) and adult painted lady butterfly feeding on thistle.
Download the Caterpillar PDF

Lesson 5: Hungry, Hungry Caterpillars

Caterpillars Feeding (0:30 minutes)
This video shows painted lady caterpillars feeding on mallow plants.
Download the Caterpillars Feeding Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Caterpillars Feeding Video
Download the Caterpillars Feeding Transcript

Caterpillars Habitat (1:22 minutes)
This video shows examples of the caterpillars’ natural habitat.
Download the Caterpillars Habitat Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Caterpillars Habitat Video
Download the Caterpillars Habitat Transcript

Lesson 6: World of Webs

Caterpillar Webs
This file shows caterpillars and the webs they make while living in a cup.
Download the Caterpillar Webs PDF

Caterpillar Habitat View 1
This file shows caterpillars and the webs they make while living in a cup.
Download the Caterpillar Habitat View 1 PDF

Caterpillar Habitat Cup View 2
This file shows caterpillars and the webs they make while living in a cup.
Download the Caterpillar Habitat Cup View 2 PDF

Caterpillar Habitat Cup View 3
This file shows caterpillars and the webs they make while living in a cup.
Download the Habitat Cup View 3 PDF

Underground Mouse
This photo shows a mouse moving through a subway station. 
Download the Underground Mouse PDF

Lesson 8: Sidewalk Solutions

Tree and Sidewalk
This photo shows a tree growing near a broken sidewalk.
Download the Tree and Sidewalk PDF

Sidewalk Solutions
This file shows photographs of two engineering strategies for fixing sidewalk-tree interactions.
Download Sidewalk Solutions PDF

Lesson 9: Play Area Plan Part 1

Ada Asks Science Challenge (1:46 minutes)
In this video Ada tells students that her school is building a new play area and they need to figure out the best place to put it. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.

Watch on YouTube

or Download the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video
Download the Ada Asks Science Challenge Transcript

Schoolyard Illustration
This file shows an illustration of the schoolyard and illustrations of three possible plans for adding a play area to the schoolyard.
Download the Schoolyard Illustration PDF

Lesson 10: Play Area Plan Part 2

Bird Identification
This website provides access to the bird identification application Merlin. It can be used as a website or downloaded as an application.
https://allaboutbirds.org

Bird Observation
This website provides access to the citizen science project eBird. It can used as a website or downloaded as an application.
https://ebird.org

Kit Tips & Tricks