🔬 Science & our world · Ages 5–6 · about 3 weeks

Animals and Habitats

Goal: Describe different habitats (desert, ocean, forest, polar) and how animals are suited to them.

For parents: Ask 'why' at every step: why does a camel have a hump? Why is a polar bear white? Children can reason about this from pictures alone.

Do together

  1. Habitat boxes

    You need: Four shoeboxes or areas of paper, animal pictures

    Make a desert, an ocean, a forest and a snowy land. Your child places each animal and explains why it lives there.

  2. Blubber glove

    You need: Two plastic bags, some ghee or butter, a bowl of ice water

    Put butter between two bags to make a 'blubber mitten'. Dip one hand in with it and one without. Which stays warmer? (Adult supervision.)

  3. Camouflage hunt

    You need: Paper shapes coloured to match your garden or carpet

    Hide some shapes that match the background and some that don't. Which does your child find first? Why?

Talk about it

  • Why do polar bears have thick fur?
  • What would happen to a fish in the desert?
  • How does its colour help an animal hide?

Words to use

  • habitat
  • desert
  • ocean
  • forest
  • polar
  • camouflage

Play

  • Living World
    Living things
  • Eco Helpers
    Caring for our planet
  • Hot & Cold Lab
    Temperature
Play these games free

Every game is free for every family until 20 November 2026.

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