Animal groups
I can name and group a wide variety of common animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Animal groups
I can name and group a wide variety of common animals, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different animals have different characteristics and these can be used to group them into broad categories
- Some common animal groups are fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
- Animals can be identified and grouped using classification skills
Keywords
Mammal - A mammal is a warm-blooded animal that gives birth to live young and has hair or fur.
Fish - A fish is a cold-blooded animal that has fins and a tail and uses gills to breathe underwater.
Bird - A bird is a warm-blooded animal that lays hard shelled eggs and has feathers.
Reptile - A reptile is a cold-blooded animal that lays eggs and has dry, scaly skin.
Amphibian - An amphibian is a cold-blooded animal that has moist skin, lays eggs and can live on land and in water.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all sea-dwelling animals are fish or that only birds can fly.
Explain, with examples from the lesson, that animals are classified based on their physical features, not where they live or how they move.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Vertebrates and invertebrates are different types of animals. What do vertebrates have that invertebrates do not have?
Q2.Some animals give birth to live young and some animals lay .
Q3.Match the words to the correct descriptions.
able to keep their body temperature stable themselves
need heat from their surroundings to keep their body warm
Q4.Match the animal to their body covering.
fur
feathers
scales
dry, scaly skin
moist skin
Q5.What do fish use gills for?
Q6.What does 'having things in common' mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How do scientists decide which group an animal belongs in?
Q2.The different vertebrate groups are called birds, fish, mammals, amphibians and .
Q3.This word means to place things, such as animals, into broad groups.
Q4.Match the animal type to its characteristics.
warm-blooded, gives birth to live young, has hair or fur
cold-blooded, most lay eggs, has scales
cold-blooded, dry, scaly skin, lays eggs
cold-blooded, moist skin, lays eggs
warm-blooded, has feathers, lays eggs, has wings and a beak