External Parts That Help Survival
Aligned to 1-LS1 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Plants and animals have outside parts that help them meet their needs — like roots, claws, or fur — for getting food, water, and protection.
Worked examples
Example 1
A bird's beak helps it grab food; a cactus's spines protect it; roots help a plant drink water from the soil.
Example 2
An elephant's long trunk lets it reach water and pull down leaves that are high up.
Example 3
A leaf is wide and flat so it can catch as much sunlight as possible. The shape of a part tells you the job it does.
Practice questions
- How does a beak help a bird?
- Name a body part that protects an animal.
- What part helps a plant get water?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Partes Externas que Ayudan a la Supervivencia
Las plantas y los animales tienen partes externas que los ayudan a satisfacer sus necesidades — como raíces, garras o pelaje — para obtener alimento, agua y protección.
Ejemplo 1: El pico de un pájaro le ayuda a agarrar alimento; las espinas de un cactus lo protegen; las raíces ayudan a una planta a absorber agua del suelo.
Ejemplo 2: La trompa larga de un elefante le permite alcanzar agua y bajar hojas que están muy alto.
Ejemplo 3: Una hoja es ancha y plana para atrapar la mayor cantidad de luz solar posible. La forma de una parte te dice el trabajo que hace.
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