Raven's family has a pet rabbit named Clover. Clover munches a pea pod, wiggling her nose.
"She eats all day," Rocket says. "What does she do with it all?"
Raven watches Clover hop across the floor. "What do you notice after she eats?" she asks.
Nova floats down to rabbit height. "Clover grows, moves and stays warm," she says. "All three need something from food."
"Materials and energy," Rocket says, counting on his fingers.
Food gives animals the materials they need to grow and to repair their bodies.
Food also gives animals the energy they need to move and to keep their bodies warm.
When Clover eats the pea pod, she gets energy that the pea plant captured from sunlight.
| Food helps an animal... | Example |
|---|---|
| Grow | A kitten gets bigger |
| Repair its body | A scraped knee heals |
| Move | A rabbit hops |
| Stay warm | A body keeps its warmth on a cold day |
Food does two big jobs for an animal.
It gives materials, like building blocks, for growing and repairing.
It gives energy, like fuel, for moving and staying warm.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Food gives animals energy to move. | ? |
| Food gives animals materials to grow. | ? |
| Animals stay warm without any energy. | ? |
| A healing scraped knee uses materials from food. | ? |
You explained what food does inside a body. Tomorrow you will feel the Sun's energy yourself.