What Plants and Animals Need to Survive

Learning Objectives

After this lesson, students will be able to: 

• Know the similarities with survival between animals and plants 

• Know the differences between survival between animals and plants 

• Know the ways animals and plants use food to survive 

What are things that living things need to survive?

Things to think about:

What is an example of an autotroph?

What is an example of a heterotroph?

What are some similarities and differences between plants and animals and their needs for survival?

Similarities and Differences Between Plants and Animals

Similarities

• Both have cells.
• Need water.
• Need air.
• Use energy.

Differences

• Plants get their energy from the sun.
• Animals have to consume food to get energy.
• Plants can’t move from place to place like animals.

How do animals use their energy?

Things to think about:

What is digestion?

How do plants use their energy?

Things to think about:

What is photosynthesis?

What is the process of photosynthesis?

Review Terms

Autotrophs – organisms that get their energy from the sun.

Heterotroph – organisms that consume food for energy.

Homeostasis – keeps internal conditions stable.

Chlorophyll – what makes plants green.

Digestion – the breaking apart of food we eat so that our bodies can use the nutrients.

Photosynthesis – process where plants make their own food.

Discussion Questions

Turn and Talk: Compare and Contrast

List at least 3 similarities and 3 differences between survival for animals and plants. Discuss with a peer sitting next to you.

Similarities

1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________

Differences

1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________

References

Video 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ByE3OO3SlY 

Video 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQIjL_0RK6U 

Video 3 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHCGkMm8Eec 

Video 4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbP73JIptdM

Image 1 (cover) – https://openclipart.org/detail/327539/cute-animals-frame