Exploring Animals & Habitats Around the World

June is a wonderful time to take students on an exciting journey through the animal kingdom while exploring the habitats that make each species unique. With meaningful connections to World Oceans Day on June 8 and World Rainforest Day on June 22, students can begin to understand how animals depend on their environments to survive and thrive. These special days provide a natural opportunity to build curiosity while introducing important ideas about habitats, ecosystems, and caring for wildlife around the world.

Our collection of animal resources fits perfectly into this theme and makes it easy for teachers to create engaging, cross-curricular lessons. The Ocean Animal Fact Booklets (including dolphin, shark, jellyfish, seahorse, whale, octopus, crab, and starfish) help students explore life beneath the sea while connecting to conversations about ocean conservation. Our Ocean Animal Activities and How to Draw Ocean Animals add a creative layer that allows students to visualize and express what they’ve learned.

Moving beyond the ocean, our Zoo Animal Fact Booklets (giraffe, zebra, cheetah, monkey, elephant, tiger, lion, rhino, and hippo) introduce students to animals from grasslands and savannas, helping them compare habitats and characteristics. Paired with our How to Draw Zoo Animals and Zoo Animal Activities, students can engage with these animals in hands-on and meaningful ways.

Our Rainforest Fact Booklet and How to Draw Rainforest Animals provide the perfect opportunity to explore one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Students can learn about layers of the rainforest, unique animals, and why these environments are so important to our planet.

To enrich learning even further, read-alouds can bring these habitats and animals to life. Here are five engaging book options:

Over in the Ocean by Marianne Berkes 

If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss 

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry 

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck 

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals by Catherine D. Hughes. 

These books help students build knowledge while sparking wonder and appreciation for the natural world.

Hands-on activities can make these concepts even more meaningful:

Habitat Sorting Activity – Students sort animals into ocean, rainforest, or grassland/zoo habitats. 

Build-a-Habitat Diorama – Create a simple shoebox habitat for an assigned animal. 

Animal Movement Game – Students act out how different animals move (swim, jump, climb, run). 

Compare & Contrast Chart – Students compare two animals from different habitats. 

“Protect the Animals” Discussion & Drawing – Students draw ways to help animals and their environments.

As June continues, these activities help students see that animals all over the world are connected through the environments they live in. By exploring oceans, rainforests, and grasslands, you’re helping young learners develop curiosity, understanding, and respect for the incredible diversity of life on Earth. All products are found in my store:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher