Environmental Science: Protecting Plants and Animals
Simple ways people can help living things stay safe
Environmental Science: Protecting Plants and Animals
Simple ways people can help living things stay safe
Environmental Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
A class visits a park and sees wildflowers growing near the path. What is one way the students can protect the flowers?
Think about how feet and hands can hurt small plants.
The students can protect the flowers by staying on the path and not picking or stepping on them. - 2
Circle the action that helps animals: leaving trash on the ground, putting trash in a bin, or chasing birds.
Putting trash in a bin helps animals because trash can hurt them or make their habitat dirty. - 3
A bird builds a nest in a tree near a playground. Why should people leave the nest alone?
A nest is a home for a bird family.
People should leave the nest alone because birds need nests to keep their eggs and babies safe. - 4
Name two things plants need to grow and stay healthy.
Plants need sunlight and water to grow and stay healthy. They also need air, space, and soil with nutrients. - 5
A pond has frogs, fish, insects, and plants. How can people help keep the pond a safe habitat?
Think about what would make the water dirty or dangerous.
People can help keep the pond safe by not dumping trash or chemicals into the water and by leaving plants and animals alone. - 6
A sign says, 'Do not feed the ducks.' Explain why feeding wild ducks people food can be harmful.
Wild animals have foods that are best for their bodies.
Feeding wild ducks people food can be harmful because it may make them sick and can stop them from finding their natural food. - 7
Look at this list: recycle paper, plant a tree, break branches off a tree, pick up litter. Which action does not protect plants or animals?
Breaking branches off a tree does not protect plants or animals because it can hurt the tree and take away shelter for animals. - 8
A family wants to make their yard better for butterflies. What is one helpful thing they can do?
Butterflies visit flowers for food.
The family can plant flowers that butterflies use for food. Flowers with nectar help butterflies survive. - 9
What is a habitat?
A habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives and gets what it needs, such as food, water, shelter, and space. - 10
A student finds a small turtle crossing a sidewalk. What is a safe way to help?
It is safest to ask an adult before touching a wild animal.
A safe way to help is to tell an adult and keep people away from the turtle. The adult can help the turtle move safely in the direction it was going if needed. - 11
Why is it important to plant new trees when many trees are cut down?
Many animals live in or near trees.
It is important to plant new trees because trees give animals homes, make oxygen, provide shade, and help keep soil in place. - 12
Sort these actions into helpful or harmful: watering a young tree, throwing plastic in a stream, watching animals from far away, pulling leaves off plants.
Watering a young tree and watching animals from far away are helpful actions. Throwing plastic in a stream and pulling leaves off plants are harmful actions. - 13
A beach has a sign asking visitors to stay away from roped-off sand where birds are nesting. How does the rope protect the birds?
Some birds build nests right on the sand.
The rope protects the birds by keeping people away from their nests so the eggs and baby birds are not stepped on or scared. - 14
Explain one reason people should not take wild animals home as pets.
People should not take wild animals home as pets because wild animals need their natural habitat, natural food, and space to live safely. - 15
Write one promise you can make to help protect plants and animals in your neighborhood.
Choose an action you can really do at home, school, or a park.
One good promise is: I will pick up litter and leave plants and animals in their habitats so they can stay safe.