---
title: "How organisms shape habitats"
description: "Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals can change the environment to meet their needs"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/how-organisms-shape-habitats-mt_qixeaiswFP
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/how-organisms-shape-habitats-mt_qixeaiswFP.md
retrieved: 2026-11-12
---

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# How organisms shape habitats

Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals can change the environment to meet their needs

Subject: Science · Area: Earth's Systems · Ages 5 to 6
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/how-organisms-shape-habitats-mt_qixeaiswFP

## Ready when they can

- Give at least three examples of living things changing their surroundings, such as beavers building dams, birds building nests, and tree roots widening rock cracks
- Explain why organisms change their environment (to meet needs for shelter, food, water)
- Construct an argument with evidence showing how a specific organism changes its environment

## Lesson: How living things change their home

Plants and animals can change places where they live. Animals need food, water, air, and shelter. Plants need water, light, air, and suitable warmth. Wind can move things too, but wind is not alive. Look for who or what made a change.

**Example.** A beaver cuts wood with its teeth. It piles branches, logs, and mud across a stream to make a dam. The dam slows the flow. Water gathers behind it and can form a pond. Deeper water around the beaver's lodge helps protect its home. Some water still flows past the dam.

*(drawing: A pond can form behind the dam.)*

Many birds gather twigs to build nests for their eggs and chicks. Tree roots take up water and need space to grow. A root is part of a tree, not a whole tree. Roots can grow into rock cracks. As roots grow thicker, they can widen cracks and break rock apart.

Explain the change, the need it helps meet, and an observed clue. For example: 'A beaver made deeper water to protect its home. I saw it add logs to the dam.' A pond alone does not show who made it.

Some desert foxes dig burrows. A burrow gives a fox a place to hide from danger and rest away from heat. This is shelter. The fox changes the ground by digging. Explain both the change and the need it helps meet.

**Recap.** Living things can change their surroundings. Describe the change, explain the need it helps meet, and give an observation that supports your explanation.

*This lesson, its questions, and its flashcards were written for this dataset.*

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [What Living Things Need](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/what-living-things-need-mt_L1469gt34A)