Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basic environmental needs of horses and how they contribute to the ecosystem.

Materials and Prep

• Pen and paper
• Access to the internet or books about horses

Activities

1. Research and write down three important environmental needs of horses.

2. Create a poster or drawing that shows how horses contribute to the ecosystem.

3. Imagine you are a horse living in the wild. Write a short story or draw a picture that shows how you interact with other animals and plants in your environment.

First Grade Talking Points

• "Horses are animals that need certain things in their environment to stay healthy and happy."
• "One important thing horses need is fresh water to drink. Just like humans, they get thirsty too!"
• "Horses also need a lot of food to eat. They like to eat grass and hay to keep their tummies full."
• "Horses have hooves instead of feet. Their hooves help them walk and run on different types of terrain."
• "Horses are big and strong animals. They can help humans with work like pulling carts or plowing fields."
• "Horses can also be good friends to humans. Some people ride horses for fun or compete in horse races."
• "Horses are important to the ecosystem because they help spread seeds from plants when they walk around."
• "Horses also provide food for other animals like wolves or bears. They are part of the food chain."
• "It's important to take care of horses and make sure they have a clean and safe environment to live in."
• "Now that you know more about horses and their environment, you can appreciate how amazing these animals are!"