Mississippi Science L.K.3A.2
The Standard
- L.K.3A
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of what animals and plants need to live and grow.
Construct explanations using observations to describe and report what animals need to live and grow (food, water, shelter, and space).
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Ecology and Interdependence
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students look at photos or watch animals for clues about what they need. They use what they see to explain why animals need food, water, shelter, and space.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can point to a rabbit drinking and say it needs water. Given photos of a rabbit eating, drinking, hiding, and moving, the student names all four needs and points to a clue for each.
Common Misconceptions
- Some children think a hiding place gives an animal enough space to move. Others name only food and water, or guess what an animal eats without looking for clues.
How to Assess It
- Show four photos of a rabbit eating grass, drinking, hiding under a bush, and hopping in a field. Ask, "What does this rabbit need, and what do you see that tells you?"
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs rabbit photos, paper grass, blue paper, blocks, and a mat to build a habitat with food, water, shelter, and space.
Show a photo of a bird eating seeds and ask, "What do you see that tells you what this bird needs?"
Play a matching game: children match food, water, shelter, and space cards to animal photos and point out clues.
Watch birds in the schoolyard for five minutes, then draw one need you saw a bird using.
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Printable L.K.3A.2 Worksheet
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