Virginia SOL K.7.a

ScienceKindergartenLiving Systems and Processes

The Standard

living things need adequate food, water, shelter, air, and space to survive

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students name the basic things plants and animals must get from their surroundings. They sort survival needs from wants and explain how a habitat meets those needs.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can examine a habitat and identify where a living thing gets nourishment, water, air, protection, and room. The student can explain what may happen when one is missing.
Common Misconceptions: Some children think plants need only water and sunlight, or that air matters only to animals. Others confuse toys and treats with survival needs. They may also overlook overcrowding or assume every animal needs a house.
How to Assess It: Show a picture of a bird in a park. Ask each student to point to or draw its food, water, air, safe cover, and space.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a toy animal, a tray, and picture cards to build a habitat that provides everything the animal needs.
Show a crowded fish tank and ask, "What does each fish need, and what might be hard to get here?"
Play a needs-or-wants sorting game with picture cards showing water, food, nests, toys, treats, air, and open space.
Walk around the schoolyard and mark where birds or insects could find food, water, cover, air, and room.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to K.7.a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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