Animal ClassificationA Writing Across Curriculum

Activity

Grade 4

The learner will be able to classify animals by type according to their characteristics.

Students will categorize the 5 groups of animals. (Mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, & amphibians).

At the end of this activity you will:

Write a report on one classification of animal and include facts from this presentation.

What is an animal?What is an animal? Animals are living organisms. This means

they breathe, they eat, they grow and they reproduce (make more like themselves). Plants are living organisms, too.

So, what is the difference between a plant and an animal? Plants do not move, whereas most animals

do. The true difference, though, is that plants

produce their own food, whereas animals feed off other things.

Animals are separated into groups or categories so that they are more easily studied and discussed by scientists and others.

Classification?Classification?

Divide these animals into groups.

Animal ClassificationAnimal Classification

Did you group the animals based onColorSizeShapeEating habitsLiving habits

We are going to learn how animals are grouped or classified by learning about these groups:

MammalsFishBirdsReptilesAmphibians

MammalsMammalsCharacteristics:Have teethHave hairAre warm bloodedHave a single jaw boneHave inner ear bonesProduce milk for their young

MammalsMammals

Mammals have larger brains and seem to be the most capable learners.

All mammalian mothers nourish their babies with milk.

Examples of MammalsExamples of Mammals

FishFishCharacteristics:Are cold-blooded vertebrate

(backbone)Live in water Usually have paired fins, gills, and

scales

FishFishMost fish lay large numbers of

eggs, but some have live birth.

Most fish breathe by drawing water over four or five pairs of gills.

Examples of FishExamples of Fish

AmphibiansAmphibiansCharacteristics:Are cold-blooded vertebrate

(backbone)Lay their eggs in water Lack any skin coverings such as

fur, scales or feathers

AmphibiansAmphibians Young amphibians tend to resemble

small fish. Amphibian means "two lives," a

reference to the change that frogs go through as they move from egg to tadpole to frog.

Even as adults, most frogs and other amphibians must stay close to water.

Examples of AmphibiansExamples of Amphibians

BirdsBirds

Characteristics: Have feathers Lay eggs Have bodies specially adapted for

flight Have a beak rather than teeth

BirdsBirdsTheir nearly hollow bones

provide lightweight strength.Birds now live almost

everywhere on Earth.

Examples of BirdsExamples of Birds

ReptilesReptiles

Characteristics:Have scalesLay leathery eggs on land Are often called cold-blooded

because they can't regulate their own body temperature

ReptilesReptilesReptiles do not use energy to fuel

internal "furnaces" Although reptiles breathe through

lungs, some reptiles can also absorb oxygen in water through their mouth.

Examples of ReptilesExamples of Reptiles

Writing ActivityWriting Activity

Write a report on one animal classification (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles) and include 4 facts from this presentation.

ResourcesResourcesQuia Classification QuizCharts: Animal classification,

Fish, Bird, Amphibian, Animals,

The Animal Kingdom