Natural Sciences and TechnologyGrade 5

Term 1: Life and LivingPlants and Animals on Earth

(PPT 1)

Topic 1 Plants and Animals on Earth

Many different plants and animals

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Water covers more than two thirds of our planet.This is why it is referred to as the blue planet.This water, together with our sun and air, means that 1000’s of different plants and animals can live on the earth.

Biodiversity

- short for biological diversity – is the word that we use to describe

the variety of all living things, including plants, animals, micro-

organisms and their inter-relationships.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Like humans, animals and plants also need important things to survive.

Their needs may be very different from each other.

For example, fish cannot live outside of water.A springbuck cannot live in a cold climate or in water.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

There are many plants and animals on earth and they live in many different places:

1)In the water (aquatic)

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

2) In the desert

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

3) In grasslands

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

4) In forests

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

The place where animals and plants choose to live naturally is called their habitat – in other words this is the place they inhabit – their home.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

•Some plants and animals have existed in some habitats for thousands of years.

•They are known as indigenous or native to this habitat.

•Can you think of some animals and plants that are indigenous to our country?

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Aquatic or Water Habitats

The word ‘aqua’ means water.

•The Sea (also called marine)•Rivers•Wetlands•Ponds

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Aquatic or Water Habitats

Different types of animals, plants and organisms live in different types of water

habitats.

•Some live in salt water like the sea•Others need fresh water like rivers•Some need still (or what we call stagnant) water, like ponds.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Deserts or Semi-Desert Habitats

In Africa we have a number of deserts:

•The Kalahari Desert•The Namib or Namibian Desert•The Sahara Desert

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Deserts or Semi-Desert Habitats

•A desert is a very dry habitat which has little water and few trees.•There are a variety of different plants that grow in deserts.•These plants are called succulents and store lots of water to keep themselves alive.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

In the Kalahari Desert we find animals such as –

Snakes PorcupinesMeerkats GemsbokHyenas JackalsAnts ScorpionsVultures

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Grasslands•Grasslands have lots of grass and very few trees.

•When it rains in a grassland area, the grass will grow a lot, new plants will sprout and there will be lots of food for the animals that live there.

•It is also during this time that new baby animals are born.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Africa has many grasslands where we find animals such as –

•Giraffes •Lions•Rhinos•Grasshoppers•Eagles

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Grasslands also have:

•Many different types of grasses

•Wildflowers

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

Forests

•Forests are areas that have lots of trees and other plants.

•They therefore also have lots of oxygen. •A large variety of animals live in forests from elephants to squirrels to birds.

Gr 5 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 1, Topic 1

In forests we find:

•chimpanzees and gorillas •parrots•frogs•snakes•ferns•different types of trees