Basic Needs For Black Swan

The Book

Just Enough!

Written & illustrated by Steven Huynh, published by Steven De GC

The narrative encourages students to take only what is needed (ACPPS006, ACPPS022 – Foundation to Year 2 Health and Physical Education), reinforcing fairness in sharing resources like classroom materials. It also explores the negative consequences of overuse by addressing the basic needs of animals—food, water, and shelter (ACSSU002 – Foundation Year Science) —demonstrating how overuse impacts wildlife and habitats. Highlighting environmental changes caused by resource depletion (ACSSU019 – Year 1 Science), fostering the awareness of sustainability. With its rich themes of sharing and environmental stewardship, this story inspires young learners to adopt mindful, responsible habits in their daily lives.

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Resource creator

Steven Huynh

Subject

Science,

Level

Foundation, Year 1,

Learning Intentions

• Students learn that living things have basic needs, including food and water.

Successful Criteria

• Students understand that swans need weeds (for food), water (for drinking), and a river or wetland (for shelter) to grow.

Curriculum Alignment

AC9S1U01 9.0 (Science Year 1): Identify the basic needs of plants and animals, including air, water, food or shelter, and describe how the places they live meet those needs

• identifying the places where plants and animals live, including in our homes, local areas such as ponds, national parks, gardens or zoos
• identifying what they do to look after pets or plants at home and grouping these activities
• identifying and comparing the needs of a variety of plants and animals, including humans, based on their own experiences
• creating dioramas of a place a plant or animal lives, and identifying the features that enable it to meet its needs
• recognising how First Nations Australians care for living things
• exploring why caring for plants and animals is important including as sources of food and fibre

ACSSU002 8.4 (Science Foundation): Living things have basic needs, including food and water

• recognising how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples care for living things (OI.2, OI.3)
• identifying the needs of humans such as warmth, food and water, using students’ own experiences
• recognising the needs of living things in a range of situations such as pets at home, plants in the garden or plants and animals in bushland
• comparing the needs of plants and animals

Instructions

Children should read the story before starting this science activity. The worksheet has two parts:

What makes the Black Swan frustrated? Children should write three factors in the boxes that explain why the Black Swan is lying frustrated on the riverbed. For younger children, there are symbol clues to help with reading the words. Circling the factors is also acceptable.

What meets the Black Swan’s needs? Children should circle the things in the picture that help meet the Black Swan’s needs. Older children can also write down the things they have circled.

Fast finishers can colour in the pictures.