The nature center has mixed up its signs, and kindergarten students help the ranger sort 12 words into three columns: Only Plants Need, Only Animals Need, and Both Need. The word bank holds Water, Sun, Air, Soil, Food, Shelter, Space, Meat, Grass, Dirt, Sleep, and Rain. Two Think About It questions ask which word was hardest to place and for one new idea per column. The sheet supports NGSS K-LS1-1. Its answer key accepts Sun under Both if the student explains warmth.
K-LS1-1
“Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.”
The full sort, where students decide which needs plants and animals share (water, air, space, rain) and which belong to only one group.
Twelve words to sort, from Soil and Dirt to Meat, Sleep, and Rain.
Students write each word under Only Plants Need, Only Animals Need, or Both Need. In the answer key, Water, Air, Space, and Rain go under Both.
Question 1 asks which item was hardest to place and prompts with "Do animals need the sun too?". Question 2 asks for one new thing in each column.
Card sort first
Write the 12 words on cards and sort them on a table first. Students can move a card between columns before they write it down.
The Sun question
Stop the class at Sun. Some students say only plants and others say both, and the answer key accepts both if the student explains.
Science center
Leave the sheet at a center with a potted plant and a photo of the class pet. Students look at each one while they choose a column.
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