A mammal is a warm-blooded animal that gives birth to live young and has hair or fur.

A fish is a cold-blooded animal that has fins and a tail and uses gills to breathe underwater.

A bird is a warm-blooded animal that lays hard shelled eggs and has feathers.

A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that lays eggs and has dry, scaly skin.

An amphibian is a cold-blooded animal that has moist skin, lays eggs and can live on land and in water.

Animal groups

Science

Insects (non-statutory)

Mammal life cycles

Bird life cycles

Comparing the life cycles of mammals and birds

Amphibian life cycles

Insect life cycles

Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects

Endangered animals & life cycles (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

More about endangered animals (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)

Animal gestation periods

In this Reproduction and life cycles: animals unit, pupils learn to describe the life process of reproduction in some animals. In the Evolution and inheritance unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents

In the New life unit, pupils learnt that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults. In this Reproduction and life cycles: animals unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to describe the differences in life cycles of different animal groups

This unit explores the life cycles of mammals, amphibians, insects, and birds, and the reproduction process in plants and animals. It focuses on recording data, presenting findings with conclusions, and evaluating scientific evidence to support or refute ideas in various presentation formats.

Reproduction and life cycles: animals

They look at the habitat the animal lives in.

They observe it to see if it can fly or swim.

They see which group it has the most characteristics in common with.

How do scientists decide which group an animal belongs in?

The different vertebrate groups are called birds, fish, mammals, amphibians and {{}}.

This word means to place things, such as animals, into broad groups.

warm-blooded, gives birth to live young, has hair or fur

warm-blooded, has feathers, lays eggs, has wings and a beak

Match the animal type to its characteristics.

Which of these characteristics is not common for all birds?

Vertebrates and invertebrates are different types of animals. What do vertebrates have that invertebrates do not have?

Some animals give birth to live young and some animals lay {{}}.

able to keep their body temperature stable themselves

need heat from their surroundings to keep their body warm

Match the words to the correct descriptions.

Having features or characteristics which are the same.

Having features or characteristics that are different.

What does 'having things in common' mean?

Starter Quiz

Vertebrates and invertebrates are different types of animals. What do vertebrates have that invertebrates do not have?