NZ Curriculum · Year 1 Biology · Primary

Year 1 Biology Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

The Living World (biology) unit from our Year 1 New Zealand Curriculum science lesson plan: needs of living things. Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2, 3 or 4 lessons a week, showing when each pace covers this unit; a dash means that pace is on a different science unit that week. For the full year, see the Year 1 Science lesson plan.

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Year 1 Biology learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
February · Needs of living things

Year 1 Biology — February Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · Living World
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
February 1st week
(Biology)		Needs vs Wants 1. What a living thing NEEDS to surviveNeeds vs Wants 1. What a living thing NEEDS to survive 2. What is just a WANT, not a needNeeds vs Wants 1. What a living thing NEEDS to survive 2. What is just a WANT, not a need 3. Practice: sorting things into needs and wantsNeeds vs Wants 1. What a living thing NEEDS to survive 2. What is just a WANT, not a need 3. Practice: sorting things into needs and wants Air, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need air
February 2nd week
(Biology)		Needs vs Wants 1. What is just a WANT, not a needNeeds vs Wants 1. Practice: sorting things into needs and wants Air, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need airAir, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need air 2. Why living things need water 3. Why living things need foodAir, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need water 2. Why living things need food 3. Why living things need shelter Going on an Observation Walk 1. Observing plants and animals in a real outdoor space (e.g. the schoolyard)
February 3rd week
(Biology)		Needs vs Wants 1. Practice: sorting things into needs and wantsAir, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need water 2. Why living things need foodAir, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need shelter Going on an Observation Walk 1. Observing plants and animals in a real outdoor space (e.g. the schoolyard) 2. Recording what you seeGoing on an Observation Walk 1. Recording what you see 2. Thinking of a question about what plants or animals need Needs of Pets 1. What a pet needs to stay healthy and happy 2. Practice: describing the needs of a real or chosen pet
February 4th week
(Biology)		Air, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need airAir, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need shelter Going on an Observation Walk 1. Observing plants and animals in a real outdoor space (e.g. the schoolyard)Going on an Observation Walk 1. Thinking of a question about what plants or animals need Needs of Pets 1. What a pet needs to stay healthy and happy 2. Practice: describing the needs of a real or chosen petNeeds of Farm & Wild Animals 1. What a farm animal needs 2. What a wild animal needs 3. Comparing the needs of a pet, a farm animal and a wild animal Needs of Plants 1. What a plant needs to grow
March · Needs of living things

Year 1 Biology — March Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · Living World
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
March 1st week
(Biology)		Air, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need waterGoing on an Observation Walk 1. Recording what you see 2. Thinking of a question about what plants or animals needNeeds of Farm & Wild Animals 1. What a farm animal needs 2. What a wild animal needs 3. Comparing the needs of a pet, a farm animal and a wild animalNeeds of Plants 1. Practice: explaining how a plant gets what it needs from where it lives How a Place Meets an Animal's Needs 1. Looking at a real habitat and finding where an animal gets its air, water, food and shelter 2. Practice: matching a habitat feature to the need it meets How a Place Meets a Plant's Needs 1. Looking at a real habitat and finding where a plant gets its air, water and other needs
March 2nd week
(Biology)		Air, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need foodNeeds of Pets 1. What a pet needs to stay healthy and happy 2. Practice: describing the needs of a real or chosen petNeeds of Plants 1. What a plant needs to grow 2. Practice: explaining how a plant gets what it needs from where it lives How a Place Meets an Animal's Needs 1. Looking at a real habitat and finding where an animal gets its air, water, food and shelterHow a Place Meets a Plant's Needs 1. Practice: matching a habitat feature to the need it meets Planning Our Habitat Diorama 1. Choosing a plant or animal and its habitat 2. Planning a diorama (a small model) that shows how the habitat meets its needs Making, Sharing & Term 1 Assessment 1. Making the habitat diorama
March 3rd week
(Biology)		Air, Water, Food & Shelter 1. Why living things need shelterNeeds of Farm & Wild Animals 1. What a farm animal needs 2. What a wild animal needsHow a Place Meets an Animal's Needs 1. Practice: matching a habitat feature to the need it meets How a Place Meets a Plant's Needs 1. Looking at a real habitat and finding where a plant gets its air, water and other needs 2. Practice: matching a habitat feature to the need it meetsMaking, Sharing & Term 1 Assessment 1. Sharing it with the class and explaining how it shows the needs being met 2. Term 1 assessment: needs of living things topic test 3. Feedback session
March 4th week
(Biology)		Going on an Observation Walk 1. Observing plants and animals in a real outdoor space (e.g. the schoolyard)Needs of Farm & Wild Animals 1. Comparing the needs of a pet, a farm animal and a wild animal Needs of Plants 1. What a plant needs to growPlanning Our Habitat Diorama 1. Choosing a plant or animal and its habitat 2. Planning a diorama (a small model) that shows how the habitat meets its needs Making, Sharing & Term 1 Assessment 1. Making the habitat diorama—
April · Needs of living things

Year 1 Biology — April Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · Living World
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
April 1st week
(Biology)		Going on an Observation Walk 1. Recording what you seeNeeds of Plants 1. Practice: explaining how a plant gets what it needs from where it lives How a Place Meets an Animal's Needs 1. Looking at a real habitat and finding where an animal gets its air, water, food and shelterMaking, Sharing & Term 1 Assessment 1. Sharing it with the class and explaining how it shows the needs being met 2. Term 1 assessment: needs of living things topic test 3. Feedback session—
April 2nd week
(Biology)		Going on an Observation Walk 1. Thinking of a question about what plants or animals needHow a Place Meets an Animal's Needs 1. Practice: matching a habitat feature to the need it meets How a Place Meets a Plant's Needs 1. Looking at a real habitat and finding where a plant gets its air, water and other needs——
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Wonder and question

Start with an everyday question about the week’s topic that links to what your child already knows.

25 minutes

Explore and investigate

Explain the idea with pictures and simple models, then observe, test or record a small investigation together.

10 minutes

Check for mastery

Finish with a short quiz or explain-it-back task that shows what is secure and what to revisit.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 1 Biology

Concept lessons

Clear, visual lessons on each New Zealand Curriculum biology topic.

Practice activities

Short questions and checks matched to each week’s focus.

Science inquiry

Investigation, observation and recording skills built into each unit.

Progress notes

A clear record of what your child has mastered and what comes next.

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