Changing Environments

What happens to living things when their environment changes?

The environment is what surrounds a living thing. Environments include other living things, non living things, climate and location. Ask your child, “what do living things need from their environment to survive?” Explain that living things will choose an environment that meets their needs. To protect themselves and their young from predators and weather, animals build their homes in many different types of environments. People, insects, birds and spiders all need homes. Ask your child to list all the kinds of animal homes they can think of (nests, webs, trees, underground holes, etc). Explain to your child that if the environment changes, animals will move or adapt.

Key Vocabulary: Environment

View this YouTube video explanation of what an environment is.

Watch an episode of Wild Kratts.

Wild Kratts airs Monday - Friday on WITF TV at 7:30am and 12:30pm. You can also watch on WITFK 24/7 at 6pm and 6:30pm. The Wild Kratts episode you choose will help you explore animals and where they live.

Take a walk outside with paper and something to write with and explore your environment. See if you can find a spider’s web or signs of an animal home on your walk. Draw a picture of the animal home you see and its environment.

Materials: paper, crayons or pencils.

Extension: Using materials at your house or found outside, build the home of a bat (cave), wasp (nest) or snake (underground hole). Pick 1 or build all 3!

• Habitat: Animal Homes

• Habitat Sweet Habitat

• A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman

• A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

• Little Bee by Edward Gibbs

Also check your local library! You can find a list on our main page of local library systems.

If you enjoyed this week's activities and resources, you could be an Environmentalist. Environmentalists, such as Vandana Shiva and Jane Goodall, help people make good choices regarding the environment. There is no age requirement or education required to become an environmentalist.

• Find out more about what Environmentalism is here.

• Check out this TED Talk by Birke Baehr, an 11-year-old environmentalist.

• Check out this book written and illustrated by 11-year-old environmentalist, Olivia Bouler.

Also check out our STEM Career Connections page for more ideas about STEM Careers!