Virginia SOL 2.5.c

Science2nd GradeLiving Systems and Processes

The Standard

habitats change over time due to many influences.

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify changes in a habitat and describe possible causes, such as weather, seasons, animals, or people. They explain how those changes affect living things.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students compare a habitat before and after a change. They name a likely cause and explain one reasonable effect on a plant or animal.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think habitats stay the same unless people change them. They may also assume every change is harmful or that all organisms respond in the same way.
How to Assess It: Show a picture of a pond before and after a drought. Ask students to name the change, its cause, and one effect on an organism.

Lesson moves

Build a pond habitat in a tray, then remove water or add litter and record how plants and animals are affected.
Show two pictures of the same habitat and ask, “What changed, what caused it, and which organisms would be affected?”
Sort cause cards, such as drought, flood, construction, and litter, with matching habitat change and organism effect cards.
Walk around the schoolyard, photograph one habitat change, and make before and after drawings showing its effect on living things.

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