Taught through Gary the hedgehog
Approx. 25 minutes · KS1
Before you start
This is Gary. He is a real hedgehog and he lives with us in Surrey.
Gary needs some things every day or he would not be well. Let's find out what they are.
You can stop any time you like.
What you'll learn
- The things all animals need to stay alive.
- That different animals need different homes and different food.
- How to look after an animal kindly.
Part 1 — Four things every animal needs
Every animal in the world needs these four things.
| What they need | Why |
|---|---|
| 🥣 Food | To grow and to have energy |
| 💧 Water | Every animal needs a drink |
| 💨 Air | To breathe |
| 🏠 A safe home | To rest and keep warm and stay safe |
You need all four too. So does your teacher. So does a worm.
Have a think
What is one thing you and Gary both need?
Some answers
Food. Water. Air. A safe place to sleep. All four are right!Part 2 — But not the same food
All animals need food. They do not all eat the same food.
- Gary the hedgehog eats insects, like mealworms.
- Rosie the galah is a bird. She eats seeds and fruit.
- Marvin the tortoise eats leaves and plants.
If you gave Marvin a bowl of mealworms he would not eat them. If you gave Gary a pile of leaves he would be very hungry.
Have a think
Marvin the tortoise eats leaves. Rosie the galah eats seeds. Would Marvin be happy with Rosie's dinner?
Answer
No. Marvin eats leaves and plants, not seeds. Different animals need different food.Part 3 — Not the same home either
- Gary needs a warm bed to hide in. Hedgehogs like to burrow.
- Rosie needs somewhere high to perch. Birds like to be up high.
- Marvin needs space to walk about and something warm to sit under.
A home has to be right for that animal. A bird would not be happy in a burrow.
Have a think
Why would a tall perch be a bad home for Gary?
Answer
Gary is a hedgehog. He walks on the ground and likes to hide and burrow. He cannot perch like a bird, and he might fall.Part 4 — Being kind
Looking after an animal means:
- Giving it the right food, every day.
- Making sure it always has fresh water.
- Keeping its home clean and warm.
- Being gentle and quiet.
- Letting it rest when it wants to.
Gary sleeps in the daytime. If someone woke him up all day to play, he would be very tired and poorly.
Part 5 — Questions
1. Name the four things every animal needs to stay alive. (4 marks)
Answer
Food, water, air and a safe home.2. Gary eats mealworms. Marvin eats leaves. What does this tell us? (1 mark)
Answer
Different animals eat different food.3. Gary sleeps in the day. Why should we not wake him up to play? (1 mark)
Answer
Because he would be tired and could get poorly. Animals need to rest.4. Draw a good home for Gary. Label two things in it. (2 marks)
What to look for
Anything warm, safe and with somewhere to hide. Good labels: bed, hiding place, food bowl, water bowl, warm spot.Try this
- Watch our animal cams. Can you spot an animal eating? An animal resting?
- Draw an animal and draw the food it eats next to it.
Notes for the adult
Curriculum: KS1 Science — identifying that animals, including humans, need food, water and air to survive; and describing the basic needs of animals for survival.
Why the same four, repeated. The list is short on purpose and is repeated in Part 1 and again in question 1. At this age the goal is that the four become automatic.
Part 2 is the harder idea. "All animals need food" and "not all animals eat the same food" sit awkwardly together for a five-year-old. The tortoise and mealworms example is deliberately silly, because a funny wrong answer is easier to remember than a correct rule.
The kindness section is not decoration. "Leave it alone" is a real welfare message and it is the one children most need. It is also the foundation of every later welfare lesson.
Access: read-aloud, dyslexia-friendly font, enlarged text, high contrast and calm mode. Very short paragraphs, one idea per line, and a drawing task so a child who is not writing yet can still answer.
No timing, no scoring.
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