Animal Needs Reader
Level 2 Reader Grade 1–2 Life Science
Nature Explorers
What Animals Need to Survive
All animals are living things. Every animal needs five basic things to stay alive, grow, and stay safe!
Need #1
Fresh Water
All animals get thirsty. They drink clean water from ponds, rivers, and puddles. Some critters get water by eating juicy plants!
No animal can live without water.
Need #2
Healthy Food
Food gives animals energy to run, jump, and fly. Plant eaters munch on leaves. Meat eaters hunt. Other animals eat bugs!
Food gives energy to play and grow.
Need #3
Clean Air
Animals breathe a gas called oxygen. Land animals use lungs to breathe air. Fish underwater use feathery gills to get oxygen!
Animals need oxygen every minute.
Need #4
Safe Shelter
A shelter is a safe home. It shields creatures from harsh rain, cold snow, and predators. Tree nests and burrows keep babies safe.
Shelters keep families safe and warm.
Need #5
Space to Roam
Animals need enough room to walk, hunt, and rest. If a habitat is too crowded, there is not enough food for all of them.
Wild Fact!
A camel can drink 30 gallons of water in only 10 minutes!
🐪 Camel Superpower
Page 1 • Turn the page for your Explorer Questions!
Name:
Date:
Score: ____ / 8
Animal Needs Detective
Read each question and write your answers.
Part A Circle the Correct Answer
1. Why do all animals need healthy food?
A To build nests
B To get energy
C To breathe
2. How do fish take in oxygen under water?
A With gills
B With lungs
C With wings
Part B Word Detective
Bank: burrow • energy • lungs • shelter
Land animals use their to breathe in air.
Healthy food gives animals to move and play.
A rabbit digs an underground for safe shelter.
Part C Draw & Write
Draw your animal and its home!
6. My animal is a
7. Its safe shelter is
8. It gets energy by eating
Page 2 • Great job, Nature Explorer!
