• Audience
    Children and families, Primary school
  • Learning stage
    Early Stage 1, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3
  • Learning area
    Geography, Science
  • Type
    Teaching resources

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A habitat is the natural environment or home of a plant or animal. It provides food, water, shelter and air, and is a place where the plants and animals rely on each other for survival.

Australia has an variety of habitats due to its size and varying climates. The different climates are an important factor in creating the range of habitats including: rivers, waterways, wetlands, deserts, plains, forests, bush and coastal areas.


  • Dingos can be found in a variety of habitats including the desert, coast or bush.
  • Antarctica is the largest desert habitat in the world.
  • An animal needs five things to survive in its habitat: food, water, shelter, air, and a place to raise its young.

  1. What animals might live in each of the habitats?
  2. What do animals need to survive in their habitat?
  3. What external features do the animals need to survive in each of the habitats?
  4. What type of habitats are there in your local area? What animals do you see regularly in these habitats?
  5. How can we care for our local habitat?


Read about each habitat below. The illustrations can be used for a range of learning activities:

  • Brainstorm the types of animals that would live in each habitat. What predators or prey would each animal find in its environment?
  • Sort toy animals and place them in the correct habitat.
  • Use the illustrations as a background to a diorama made using an old shoebox.
  • Create and draw a mystical creature with external features to suit its survival in one of the habitats. Label your animal and give it a name!


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