Living Things Around Us
Primary 1 · Science and Elementary Technology
Living Things Around Us
Lesson 2 of 3
13 min
Let's begin
Every morning Mugisha hears the same sound outside: "Moooo." It is the family cow. He carries grass to her and fills her water pot.
On Saturday he travels with his uncle to Akagera. There he sees a zebra. Nobody carries grass to the zebra. Nobody gives her water. She finds it all by herself.
A cow and a zebra are both animals. But they do not live the same way. Today you will learn why.
Mugisha's cow sleeps in a shed. He brings her grass. He brings her water. When she is sick, the family calls for help.
An animal that people keep and care for is a domestic animal.
Domestic animals you may know:
Ask yourself one question: does a person feed it? If yes, it is a domestic animal.
The zebra in Akagera has nobody to feed her. She looks for her own grass. She walks to the water when she is thirsty. She sleeps where she likes.
An animal that lives on its own, away from people, is a wild animal.
Wild animals in Rwanda:
A wild animal is not a bad animal. It only means it does not live with people. We look at wild animals, and we leave them in peace.
Not every animal lives in the same place.
Look at the body of the animal. The body tells you how it moves.
Some animals do two things. A duck walks on land and swims in water. A chicken walks about the yard and flaps her wings a little.
Tip
Two quick questions sort out any animal.
1. Who feeds it? A person feeds it → domestic. It feeds itself → wild.
2. What is on its body? Wings → it flies. Fins → it swims. Legs → it walks. No legs → it crawls.
Answer in your head first, then tap Show answer to check.
Is a chicken a domestic animal or a wild animal?
Answer: domestic. People keep her, give her food, and she gives eggs.
Keza sees a gorilla in the forest at Volcanoes National Park. Is it domestic or wild?
Answer: wild. Nobody feeds it. It lives in the forest on its own.
A fish has fins and a tail. How does it move?
Answer: it swims.
Which animal has no legs and slides along the ground?
Answer: a snake. It crawls.
Umutoni's family keeps 2 goats and 4 chickens. How many domestic animals is that?
Answer: 6. Count them: 2 goats and 4 chickens make 6.
Note
What you learned today:
Quick check
Match each animal to how it moves.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
