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3rd grade · Science · Unit 4 of 6

Surviving in a Habitat

Groups, traits and habitats that help animals survive.

What your child practices

Practices why some animals live in groups, how small differences in traits can help some individuals survive, and why some organisms do well in a habitat while others cannot survive there.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 3L.4.1.1.1; 3L.3.2.1.1 · how animals survive, and how differences among individuals help some survive

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Some animals live in groups to survive: bees in a colony, fish in schools.
  2. Groups help find food, share jobs and stay safe from predators.
  3. Small trait differences help some animals survive better in a habitat.

Example: Why do fish swim in schools? Many fish together confuse a predator. Answer: it is harder for predators to catch one

Surviving in a Habitat in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 6 in 3rd grade Science, after Adaptations & Habitats and before Sky & Seasons.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    A brown rabbit in snow is more likely to…

    • hide well
    • find more food
    • be seen by a predator
    • stay warmer

  2. Question 2

    A moth with coloring that matches tree bark is more likely to…

    • survive
    • be eaten
    • fly away forever
    • turn into a bird

  3. Question 3

    Which trait helps a bird crack hard seeds?

    • A thick, strong beak
    • A thin, long beak
    • Bright feathers
    • Webbed feet

  4. Question 4

    A rabbit with faster legs can…

    • eat less
    • dig deeper only
    • see in the dark
    • escape predators better

  5. Question 5

    Why do wolves hunt in packs?

    • To scare the pack away
    • They like to be lost
    • Working together catches bigger prey
    • They can't see

  6. Question 6

    Some trees in a forest have thicker bark and survive a fire. Why?

    • Fire likes thick bark
    • Bark makes fire
    • Thin bark is stronger
    • Thick bark protects them

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