Raven spreads the map on the step. "Now the fun part. Who lives in each spot?"
Rocket taps the sunny middle of the lawn. "Worms! Lots of worms!"
Raven shakes her head. "Worms need damp, dark soil. Where is that on the map?"
Nova lights up the shady corner under the bush. "Follow the needs," she says. "The needs point to the neighbors."
Every living thing has its own mix of needs.
If you know the needs, the map tells you where to look.
Earthworms need damp soil and darkness. Look in shady, moist ground, not hot bare dirt.
Bees need flowers. Look in the sunny spots where flowers open.
Many birds need cover to rest and nest. Look in bushes and trees.
Moss and ferns do well in damp shade. Many flowering weeds want open sun.
A naturalist matches the living thing to the spot that meets its needs.
| Living thing | Needs | Where on the map |
|---|---|---|
| earthworm | damp soil, darkness | shady, moist ground |
| bee | flowers for nectar, sunshine | sunny spots with flowers |
| small bird | cover, seeds or insects, water | bushes and trees near water |
| moss | damp shade | the shadiest, dampest corner |
| dandelion | open sun, a bit of soil | sunny lawn or a sidewalk crack |
Your map has many small habitats inside it.
The sunny lawn, the shady corner and the leaf pile each have different conditions.
Different conditions mean different living things.
That is why a varied yard has more neighbors than a bare lot.
This idea has a name: variety of habitats gives variety of life.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Earthworms do best in hot, dry, sunny dirt. | ? |
| Bees look for flowers in sunny spots. | ? |
| Every spot in a yard has the same conditions. | ? |
| Many birds need cover to rest and nest. | ? |
Needs lead to neighbors! Tomorrow you judge which spots are good, so-so or impossible.