Why Do Living Things Change?
Have you ever watched a caterpillar? It turns into a butterfly! That is a big change.
People have always been curious about how plants and animals change. Let's see what they found out!
Here is our big question: How do changes help plants and animals get what they need?
What Do Living Things Need?
All living things have needs. That means things they must have to live and grow.
Water
Food
Shelter
Sunlight
See How a Tree Changes with the Seasons
Let's look at our anchoring phenomenon! That means a real thing we can see and wonder about.
A big tree looks different in summer and winter. Why does it drop its leaves when it gets cold?
The tree changes with the seasons. That means the different times of year. Dropping leaves helps the tree save water when it is cold and dry. This is how the change meets the tree's needs!
How Do Changes Help?
When the world around a plant or animal changes, the plant or animal may change too. Let's think about why!
Animals Change to Meet Their Needs
A rabbit grows thick fur in winter. That means its coat gets fluffy and warm. This change helps the rabbit stay warm. Staying warm is a need!
Some animals move to a new place when the weather changes. Birds fly south to find food. Moving helps them meet their need for food.
Plants Change to Meet Their Needs
A sunflower turns its face to follow the sun. It needs sunlight. Turning toward the sun helps it get more light!
Some plants grow deeper roots when the soil is dry. Deeper roots help the plant reach water far underground.
More Changes That Help
Let's look at more ways plants and animals change to meet their needs. Each change has a reason!
Every change has a job! The bear sleeps to save energy. The sunflower turns to get light. The caterpillar grows wings to find food. The cactus holds water inside its body.
Let's Figure It Out Together!
Let's be scientists! We will look at a squirrel and figure out how its changes help it meet its needs.
Plants and Animals Change in Different Ways
Plants and animals both change. But they change in different ways! Let's compare.
| Living Thing | Change It Makes | Need It Meets |
|---|---|---|
| 🐻 Bear | Sleeps all winter | Saves energy (food) |
| 🐦 Bird | Flies to warm places | Finds food and warmth |
| 🌻 Sunflower | Turns toward the sun | Gets more sunlight |
| 🌳 Tree | Drops its leaves | Saves water |
| 🐿️ Squirrel | Hides nuts in fall | Has food in winter |
Bigger Ideas About Living Things
You are learning something amazing! When you grow up, you will learn even more about how living things change.
| What We Learn Now | What You Will Learn Later |
|---|---|
| Plants and animals change to meet needs. | Some changes happen over many, many years! |
| A bear sleeps in winter to save energy. | You will learn why some animals can do this and others cannot. |
| Plants grow toward sunlight. | You will learn how parts inside the plant make this happen. |
For now, the big idea is this: every change has a reason. When you see a plant or animal doing something new, ask yourself: what need is it meeting?
Practice Time!
Great job learning! Now let's try some questions. These are about a pond in a park. In summer the pond is full of water. In winter the pond freezes!
What Did We Learn?
All living things have needs like water, food, shelter, and sunlight. When the world changes, plants and animals change too. A tree drops its leaves to save water. A bear sleeps in winter to save energy. A sunflower turns toward the sun to get more light.
Every change helps a plant or animal meet a need. When you see a change, ask: what need does this help? You are a scientist! Keep watching, asking questions, and learning about the living world around you. 🌎