Animal Classification: Final Project

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

• Did you say the second picture is the arthropod?

Great job!

The first picture of the lizard is a reptile, the second picture of the butterfly is an arthropod, the third picture of the puppy is a mammal, and the fourth picture of the salamander is an amphibian.

In this lesson, review everything you know about different types of animals.

There are many different types of mammals found around the world.

• Did you know you are a mammal?

Mammals are warm-blooded creatures. This means they can regulate their body temperature, and their body stays about the same temperature all their lives.

Mammals are vertebrates. This means they have a backbone. Mammals have hair or fur on their body.

Mammals have live babies. They don't have babies that hatch out of eggs.

Unlike mammals, reptiles only have four types of animals. The four types of reptiles are turtles, snakes, alligators and crocodiles, and lizards.

Reptiles are different from mammals because they are cold-blooded. They have to warm their body in the sunlight and cool down in the shade. When reptiles are warm, they move much faster!

Reptiles do not have fur or hair on their body like mammals do. They have rough, scaly skin.

Reptiles are vertebrates just like mammals. They have a backbone, too!

Mammals and reptiles are different because reptiles lay eggs instead of having live babies. They lay many hard-shelled eggs, and their babies hatch from them.

Reptiles have either four legs or no legs.

• Can you name the type of reptile that has no legs?

Amphibians have a lot of things in common with reptiles. There are four types of amphibians: frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.

Just like reptiles, amphibians are cold-blooded, too.

• What must amphibians do to stay warm and cool down?

Unlike reptiles, amphibians have smooth, moist skin. If you touch an amphibian, it will feel wet and slimy!

All amphibians have four legs.

Amphibians lay eggs just like reptiles do. They usually lay their eggs in water, though!

Just like mammals and reptiles, amphibians are vertebrates, too! They have a spine in their bodies.

Fish also share a lot of characteristics with reptiles and amphibians.

Fish have gills instead of lungs. They use their gills to breathe underwater.

Reptiles and fish both have scales covering their bodies. Their scales are hard and keep them safe from predators.

Fish are cold-blooded just like reptiles and amphibians.

Fish lay eggs like reptiles and amphibians do. Fish and amphibians both lay their eggs in the water.

Mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish are all vertebrates.

• What does it mean to be a vertebrate?

Birds share many common characteristics with mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish!

Birds are warm-blooded just like mammals.

• What does it mean to be warm-blooded?

Instead of having fur, hair, scales, or smooth, moist skin, birds have feathers. They use their feathers to stay warm and help them fly!

Birds lay eggs just like reptiles, amphibians, and fish do. Their eggs are laid on land and have hard shells. They don't lay nearly as many eggs as reptiles, amphibians, and fish. They only lay four to five eggs.

Birds are vertebrates. This means they have a spine.

All birds have two legs. They use their two legs to catch prey, climb branches, and build their nest.

The last type of animal is called an arthropod. Arthropods have unique characteristics. Some examples of arthropods are: insects, spiders, crabs, shrimp, lobsters, and scorpions.

They are cold-blooded.

Arthropods have segmented bodies. This means their bodies are divided into multiple parts. For example, insects' bodies usually have three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.

Arthropods have multiple limbs. Insects have six limbs, and spiders always have eight limbs.

All arthropods have an exoskeleton. Their exoskeleton is like a protective shield that keeps them safe.

They lay eggs just like many of the other types of animals you learned about.

Lastly, they are different from all the other animals you learned about because they are invertebrates. This means they have no backbone!

Excellent job! You reviewed mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, and arthropods.

Move to the Got It? section to continue reviewing your learning.