K-State Research and Extensions
You Ol’ Fossil
Geologists are gneiss, tuff, and a little bit wacke. The fifth chapter of seven includes ten activities at four different levels. The hands-on activities cover fossils including how they are formed, vertebrates, invertebrates,...
Curated OER
Animal Facts
Fourth graders list five facts about an assigned animal, and complete a bird beak activity, using pliers, blunt pencils, forceps, clothespins, and a spoon that represent different types of beaks; students complete chart showing best type...
Curated OER
Biology In Elementary Schools
Learners classify animals into six major animal groups and describe the characteristics of the animals found within each group. In this living and non-living animals lesson plan, students observe a variety of animals, both living and...
Curated OER
Sibling Relationships in the Animal World
Students research sibling relationships in the animal world. In this animal science lesson plan, students read the book, Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World and discuss the sibling relationships. Students...
Curated OER
From Curiosity Cabinet to Museum Collection
Students study binomial nomenclature and museum-based research. They create a curiosity box, label the objects in their curiosity box , develop a classification scheme for the objects, and create a database of all objects collected by...
Curated OER
Is There Room for Everybody?
Third graders examine the capacity of animals able to live in one habitat. In this habitat lesson, 3rd graders play a game that shows the food chain and the interactions between animals in an area. Students discover that food is a major...
Curated OER
Classified Information - Part 1: Shapes
Third graders investigate how and why scientists use classification. They discuss classification strategies using animals, and as a class fill in a flowchart with their responses. Next, in small groups they cut out a variety of shapes...
Curated OER
Animals Around the World
Students study different kinds of animals and what group they belong to. In this animal classification lesson students view different animals and sort them by what group they belong to, for example a snake is in the reptile group.
Curated OER
Identification and Classification Activities
Explore and understand your world with taxonomy.
Curated OER
Species Charades
Students identify endangered species. In this endangered species lesson, the teacher leads a discussion about endangered species, then the class plays a game of charades to pantomime animal behavior.
Curated OER
Reptiles and Amphibians
Fourth graders explore biology by viewing animal videos in class. In this amphibian and reptile lesson, 4th graders identify the key differences between reptiles, amphibians and other animal classifications. Students view video clips in...
Curated OER
What Kind Of Mammal Is It?
Students describe the characteristics of a mammal. They also differentiate between a companion and a wild animal. The lesson has an assessment included in it. They have a discussion to tap prior knowledge about what a mammal is.
Curated OER
Insects?
Learners classify animals. In this insects and bugs lesson, students discuss the characteristics of insects and other closely related animals such as spiders, ticks and centipedes. Learners talk about the differences between insects and...
Twisty Noodle
Mammals Book
What do a sheep, a boy, and a bat have in common? Learn about mammals with a mini book that lists many different types of mammals. Kids can color the fun illustrations and compile the pages to publish their own mammal books.
University of Wisconsin
Bimodel Botany Bouquet
Gardeners are given an individual plant specimen from a bouquet of local rain garden plants. They group up by their plant type and then make observations together, name the plant, and introduce it to the rest of the class. You then share...
PBS
Reading Adventure Pack: Animals
Scholars explore the animal kingdom with help from two texts, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey and A Bed for the Winter by Karen Wallace. The literature and informational text set the learning stage for thoughtful discussion and...
Curated OER
Creative Classroom Creatures
Young scholars are introduced to the five kingdoms and discover why there is a need for a classification system. Using the internet, they examine how scientific names are created and practice putting animals into their correct...
Curated OER
The Classification of the Kingdoms of Life
Students can learn about the evolution of science by discussing the classification of living things.
Curated OER
World Animal Day
In this World Animal Day instructional activity, students complete activities such as reading a passage, phrase matching, fill in the blanks, correct words, multiple choice, spelling, sequencing, scrambled sentences, writing questions,...
Curated OER
Vertebrate Classification Challenge
Students determine which animals belong to the vertebrate phyla. In this classification lesson, students are given large papers with the names of the phyla of vertebrates. They must work together to place organisms into their correct...
Curated OER
Animals
Students explore biology by participating in a science vocabulary activity. In this animal species lesson plan, students define a list of animal vocabulary terms as well as practice using them in sentences with the appropriate adjectives...
Curated OER
Sharks Taxonomy
Learners, in groups, establish a classification system for the world of your classroom. They draw a chart to explain their categories and system to the rest of the class.
Curated OER
Animal Hide and Seek
Students read about animal camouflage. In this animal adaptation lesson, students read short texts about ways in which animals hide or transform to escape their prey. Students explore animal classifications and determine ways to hide in...
Homeschool Share
Lion Lapbook
Is your class in the mood for a fantastic set of lion-themed activities? Foldables, worksheets, writing prompts, and simple-to-read information are yours for the taking! Intended to accompany a unit on lions, this resource provides...