CLASSIFICATION OF

ANIMALS

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IntroductionAudience This projects is intended for third grade students . Science Unit: Animal Classification Vocabulary: Mammal, Fish, Bird, Reptile, Amphibian This project will serve to review what the students know about animal

classification as well as test that knowledge.

Objective The student will review the qualities which scientist use to classify

animals and practice using what they know to classify some animals on their own.

S.IP.03.11 Make purposeful observations of plants and animals using the appropriate senses.

S.RS.03.11 Demonstrate understanding of plant and animal structures and functions through illustrations, descriptions, or discussions.

VertebratesAnimals with an internal skeleton made of

bone are called vertebrates. There are about 58,000 species of vertebrates (that we know of). This is only a small percentage of all animals, but because of their mobility and size vertebrates usually dominate their environments.

Scientists have classified vertebrates into five classes. These classes are mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians.

What do these animals have in common?

They are all mammals.

Mammals… have fur. are warm blooded. have live birth. produce milk to feed

their young.

What do these animals have in common?

They are all birds.

Birds… have feathers. are warm blooded. lay eggs.

What do these animals have in common?

They are all fish.

Fish… are cold-blooded are aquatic (live entire

life under water) lay eggs spend their entire

lives in water.Most fish have gills and

scales. Their limbs are modified into fins for swimming.

Skill check!Which of these animal classifications is cold-blooded?

mammal

bird

fish

no

no

Yes!

What do these animals have in common?

They are all reptiles.

Reptiles… are cold blooded usually have scales lay eggs

What do these animals have in common?

They are all amphibians.

Amphibians… Are cold blooded Begin life in water

and end up on land

Let’s see what you remember about the

classification of vertebrates!

take the quiz

This is a Golden Poison Frog.

Although the golden poison dart frog is only the size of a paperclip, it is considered to be one of the most toxic animals on earth. The golden poison dart frog is cold blooded. It is born from an egg under water, but spends its adult life on land.

What is it? Mammal Bird Fish Reptile Amphibian

Sorry, the golden poison dart frog is cold blooded.

Try again

Review

Sorry, the golden poison dart frog is born in the

water and spends its adult life on land.

Try again

Review

Great job!

How about another one?

This is an emu.

An emu can be over 6 feet tall. It has feathers, but cannot fly. It is warm-blooded and lays eggs. WHAT IS IT?

Mammal Bird Fish Reptile Amphibian

Sorry, the emu lays eggs.

Try again

Review

Sorry, the emu is warm- blooded.

Try again

Review

Great job! Although the emu is

flightless, it is still a bird!

How about another one?

This is a sharkSharks have rows of teeth that are embedded in their gums instead of their jaw. Sharks are aquatic so they have gills and fins. They are cold-blooded.

WHAT IS IT? Mammal Bird Fish Reptile Amphibian

Sorry, but sharks do not have fur.

Try again

Review

Sorry, the shark is aquatic and spends its entire life

under water.

Try again

Review

Great job!

How about another one?

This is a crocodile.

Crocodiles spend a lot of time in the water, but they breath air. They are cold-blooded animals. They lay nests of eggs called clutches.

What is it? Mammal Bird Fish Reptile Amphibian

Sorry, the crocodile is cold-blooded.

Try again

Review

Sorry, crocodiles live their entire life on land.

Try again

Review

Great job!

How about another one?

This is a dolphin.

Dolphins are warm-blooded. They are aquatic, but breath air. They are not born from eggs. What is it?

Mammal Bird Fish Reptile Amphibian

Sorry, dolphins are warm-blooded.

Try again

Review

Sorry, dolphins are not born from eggs.

Try again

Review

Great job!Even though dolphins live under water and their fur

is not visible they are mammals!

How about another one?

This is a platypus.

A platypus has fur and is warm-blooded. It has webbed feet which help it swim. It’s bill-like snout is actually covered with soft moist skin. They platypus lays two eggs once a year.

WHAT IS IT? Mammal Bird Fish Reptile Amphibian

The platypus is a mammal, despite the fact that it lays eggs. It belongs to a

sub-group of mammals called monotremes which lay eggs. Only two

animals belong in this group, the platypus and the echidna.

To learn more about monotrens visit this website:

http://science.jrank.org/pages/4435/Monotremes.html

Even in science there are exceptions to the rules!

You’ve done a great job!You sure know a lot about animals.

BirdsAre warm blooded

Lay eggsHave feathers

FishAre cold-blooded

Lay eggsHave gills, scales, and fins

ReptilesAre cold-blooded

Live on landLay eggs

AmphibiansAre cold-blooded

Begin life in water then live on land

Review Back