Science

Habitats | Environmental Changes | Lesson 6
Living Things and Their

Habitats

Science

species.
I can present my findings orally and in writing.
I

can name some endangered species.
I can say how changes to the environment have affected endangered species.
I can write a report about information I have gathered through research.
I can present my findings to the class.

everything they need, including food, water, air and a space

to live and grow.
Human beings are able to make big changes to their habitat to make it suitable for them to live in.
What are some of the ways that humans are able change the environment?

in their habitats. These species are able to live alongside

humans successfully in towns and cities.

such as rainforest or marshland. When the habitat changes, these

species find it very difficult to survive.

these changes are natural. What kind of natural events could

cause changes to habitats? How could these affect the plants and animals that live there?

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can have very serious consequences for living things.
Habitats can

be destroyed and the plants and animals that live there might be killed. Those animals that survive might find that their sources of food and water have disappeared. They may no longer have a safe place to live and grow.
These fish died when their river habitat dried up in a drought.
While these events are natural, many are made worse by climate change, and so are affected by the activities of humans.

Natural Changes

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things are caused by humans.
What kind of environmental changes

can you think of that are caused by humans? How could these affect living things?

Changes Caused by Humans

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habitats.
Only a very small amount of the world’s land is

covered in rainforest, but about half of all plants and animals live here.
Humans have cut down large areas of the forest to clear space for building or farming. This has destroyed the habitats of many species and made it difficult for them to survive.

Deforestation

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makes it difficult for plants to grow. This in turn

means there is no food or shelter for the animals that once lived among the plants.

Pollution

Chemicals and waste that are spilled in the sea are very dangerous to all the living things in the marine habitat.

Pollution in and near rivers and streams kills the plants and animals in the water and poisons the drinking water of many living things.

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habitats, there is not enough land and food left for

the animals to share.
Wild animals can be forced to come to human areas to look for food and shelter. This can be dangerous for humans and animals.

Urbanisation

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this can have a very bad effect on the existing

wildlife.

Invasive Species

Grey squirrels are an example of an invasive species that is common in the UK. These are native to America, but were introduced in to the UK in the 1870s because people thought it would be nice to see them in parks and gardens.

Unfortunately, grey squirrels are bigger, stronger and breed more quickly than our native red squirrels. Grey squirrels eat the food and take up the habitat that was once held by red squirrels, and now the red squirrels are in danger of extinction.

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examples of environmental changes and how they affect living things.

Change in the Environment:
Water pollution.  
Impact on Habitats
Water is poisoned by chemicals from factories.
Effect on Living Things
Kills fish and other animals that live in the water.
Kills plants living in and near the water.
Poisons the drinking water of many animals.

much of their habitat. When a living thing is endangered

it means that there are not many of that plant or animal left and scientists are concerned that the species may become extinct.
Here are some endangered species. There are many more species of plants and animals threatened by the destruction of their habitats. If these species cannot be protected from the changes in their environment, some of them may become extinct.

changes to the environment.
Once a species is extinct, it

can never be brought back.

dodo

Tasmanian tiger

quagga

passenger
pigeon

cry violet

endangered animal by looking in books and on the Internet.

Draw a picture of the animal.
Describe the animal’s habitat.
Explain what changes to the environment have made the animal an endangered species.
Suggest what can be done to save the animal from extinction.

to share the information you have found out through your

research.
Focus on communicating your findings about the animal and its habitat, and the environmental changes that have made it endangered.
Make sure you co-operate with your partner to get the information across to the audience.

do to help endangered plants and animals so they do

not have to face extinction.
Find Out More
The first step in protecting endangered species is to find out more about them and to tell your friends and families. The more people know about all the amazing living things that are at risk of extinction, the more can be done to help them.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Making new products uses lots of resources. When these resources are taken from the natural world, habitats are destroyed. Make sure that your family recycles all the waste that they can, and don’t forget about reducing and reusing too!

damages the environment and harms plants and animals. Switching appliances

off when they are not in use will make the world a better place for all living things, and for humans too.
Think Local
Many species in the UK are in decline. Find out about the endangered species in your area and what you can do to protect them.
Support Wildlife Charities
There are lots of wildlife charities who work very hard to protect endangered species. These charities work to protect habitats so that plants and animals have a safe place to live.
Can you think of any more ways you can help?

species.
I can present my findings orally and in writing.
I

can name some endangered species.
I can say how changes to the environment have affected endangered species.
I can write a report about information I have gathered through research.
I can present my findings to the class.