Basic Needs of Animals Song (PART OF A 10-SONG COLLECTION)

“''Excellent video and lovely clear information in the song. This makes for a very useful teaching tool for home learning. Thank you!'' ” - Eviklyn [Year 1 Teacher]

— reviewed resource from our original Year 1 collection via TES

✉️ REQUEST PERFORMANCE AVAILABILITY
“This a fun way to help students remember some basic concepts. We all know the benefits of music in relation to learning. Thank you.” - Andrea C. [K-3 Teacher]

— Teachers Pay Teachers [Comment on our Year 1 Science Bundle]

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Incorporate inclusive teaching methods into your science lessons with this unique, multi-sensory resource.

This song is featured in our live school assemblies and interactive STEM workshops. Every booking includes full post-performance classroom activity sets mapped to the KS1 and K-1 science curriculum, giving your teachers ready-to-use resources to continue the learning in class.

Full Song Lyrics: Basic Needs of Animals

What do we need to be healthy?        
What do we need to survive?                           
What do we need to be happy?                            
What do we need to thrive?                 
Whatever, whoever, wherever, whenever we are Whatever, whoever, wherever, whenever we are    

We need water first of all                   
From a spring or a waterfall          
It has to be clear and pure            
With no bugs in it, that’s for sure    

Another thing we need every day
Yummy food, cooked in many ways
Food is a precious resource  
Eat too much, you’ll only feel worse 

We need clean, air to breathe                  
From green plants, we receive
They give us oxygen   
To keep us alive           

Shelter is a thing we also need            
Whether you’re human or a centipede
Home’s a safe place to be  
To snuggle up with your family

Name of song on YouTube is 'What do we Need?

Curriculum Alignment: English & US

English National Curriculum (Key Stage 1)
This resource is fully aligned with the Key Stage 1 (KS1) Year 2 Science Programme of Study for 'Living Things and Their Habitats'. It specifically covers the objective: 'identify that animals, including humans, need water, food and air to survive' and introduces key concepts like shelter and survival needs

NGSS Standards (K–2 Focus)

This song establishes the foundational concept of life processes and the requirements for survival in ecosystems.

Core LS Focus: Grade 2 (G2)

Targeted Alignment (G2-LS4-1): Directly supports the comparison of diversity of life by establishing the common, fundamental needs (food, water, shelter, air) shared by most animals.

Targeted Alignment (G2-LS2-1): Supports the understanding of Ecosystems by identifying the resources animals require from their environment.

Extension Value: This basic needs framework is the essential foundation for studying interdependence, competition, and energy flow in ecosystems (G3 and G5).

 

Global Suitability Note: The concepts in this song align with foundational Life Science standards used across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other English-speaking curricula.