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Primary Science · Year 3Chapter 5 · Food and nutrition
Year 3 Science · Food and nutrition · Lesson 5.1

Year 3 Science: Animals need nutrition

Part of the Year 3 Science food and nutrition chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

5.1

Animals need nutrition

Year 3
Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat
Story. Priya’s class visits a farm. The farmer says, “Our hens eat grain and greens, and they need fresh water every day.” Priya asks, “Can the hens make their own food, like the plants?” The farmer smiles. “No. They must eat what they need.”

Nutrition is the food and drink that a living thing needs to stay alive, grow and stay healthy. Animals, including humans, need nutrition every day.

Plants can make their own food. Their leaves use light from the Sun, together with water and air, to make food for the plant. Animals cannot do this. An animal cannot make its own food from light.

So an animal has to get its nutrition by eating. The food it eats gives it what it needs.

Animals need the right types of food, and the right amount. Too little food can leave an animal weak and unwell.

a plant makesits own foodusing lightan animal must eatits food
A plant makes its own food from light. An animal must eat its food.

Key ideas

  • Nutrition is the food and drink that a living thing needs to stay alive, grow and stay healthy.
  • Plants can make their own food, using light.
  • Animals, including humans, cannot make their own food. They get nutrition from what they eat.
  • Animals need the right types of food, and the right amount.
Worked example 5.1.1
Can an animal make its own food from light, like a plant? Write yes or no.

Method. Compare the plant with the animal.

  1. Look at the plant. A plant uses light in its leaves to make its own food.
    plant: light makes food
  2. Look at the animal. An animal cannot make food from light, so it must eat.
    animal: must eat
  3. Write the answer.
    no

Check. Animals get nutrition by eating. ✓

Worked example 5.1.2
Write the word for the food and drink that a living thing needs to stay alive, grow and stay healthy.

Method. Read the definition.

  1. Read the words. Food and drink that a living thing needs to stay alive, grow and stay healthy is called nutrition.
    food and drink
  2. Name it. The word for this is nutrition.
    nutrition
  3. Write the answer.
    nutrition

Check. Nutrition is needed by animals, including humans. ✓

Watch out. Nutrition is the whole idea of food and drink. Do not write only food.

Worked example 5.1.3
Write one way that an animal gets its nutrition.

Method. Think about what an animal does to get its food.

  1. Think about the animal. An animal cannot make its own food.
    cannot make food
  2. Give the way. So it gets its nutrition by eating.
    by eating
  3. Write the answer.
    by eating

Check. A hen gets nutrition by eating grain and greens. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: plants and animals both need food, but they get it in different ways. A plant makes its food from light. An animal must eat its food.

Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, look at a pet, such as a rabbit or a guinea pig, or a picture of one. Make a list of the food it eats. Do not feed any animal without asking a grown-up first. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Can a rabbit make its own food from sunlight? How does it get what it needs?” Let your child explain the answer in their own words.

Exercise 5A  Animals need nutrition

1
FWhat is the word for the food and drink a living thing needs to stay alive, grow and stay healthy? Write the word.
2
FCan a plant make its own food? Write yes or no.
3
FCan an animal make its own food from light? Write yes or no.
4
FFill in the gaps.
(a)Plants use ___ from the Sun to make their own food.
(b)Animals get nutrition from what they ___.
5
FName one thing that every animal needs to stay alive. Write one.
6
FWhich is the right way for a hen to get its nutrition? Write eating or sleeping.
7
PSA hen eats grain and greens. Where does the hen get its nutrition from? Write one short answer.
8
RAli says animals, including humans, need the right amount of food, but the type of food does not matter. Is Ali right? Write no, and give one reason.
9
FLook at the picture. Which one makes its own food: the plant or the rabbit? Write the name.
a plant makesits own foodusing lightan animal must eatits food
10
FLook at the picture. Which one must eat its food to get its nutrition: the plant or the rabbit? Write the name.
a plant makesits own foodusing lightan animal must eatits food
11
PSWorking scientifically. Predict: Ali gives his pet hamster only a very small amount of food each day. Predict one thing that might happen to the hamster’s health if this carries on.
12
RExplain in one sentence why an animal cannot stay healthy without eating.

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