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Identifying Vertebrates
In this biology instructional activity, students look for the answers to how to classify animals. They specifically focus upon the vertebrates while differentiating the characteristics from other organisms.
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What's Your Classification
Learners classify animals. In this animal groups lesson, students watch a video on animal groups and review the six animal groups. Learners practice classifying animals using stuffed animals.
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The American Prairie
Students design an animal. In this prairie instructional activity, students learn about physical and behavioral adaptation, locate the Great Plains on a map, and design an animal that would be perfectly adapted for life on the...
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Comparing and Contrasting a Desert Reptile and a Rainforest Mammal
First graders compare and contrast two different type of animals while also making predictions, observations, and asking provocative questioning. In this compare and contrast lesson, 1st graders acquire knowledge about why some animals...
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Understanding Science Vocabulary and Categorization
Students analyze scientific vocabulary words. In this life science vocabulary activity, students complete a worksheet using VisualThesaurus as they evaluate words related to plants and animals and how the words are used.
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Portrait Sculptures
Third graders identify characteristics that they have in common with animals. They create a self-portrait sculpture combining the body structures of different animals. They create the sculpture armature, plaster the armature, and then...
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Creating a Classification System
Learners create classification system for Arctic-dwelling animals, the Arctic hare in particular.
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Backyard Critters
Students explore the characteristics of invertebrates in their backyards. They observe, describe, and classify specimens. They conclude with a "snail race."
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The Creation of an Imaginary Species
Students explore the characteristics that distinguish different forms of animal life on Earth which are the results of natural selection and adaptations to their environment. The creatures are created using a game and then drawn by the...
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Science: Animal Body Parts
Students examine animal vocabulary words and identify which animals have those characteristics. In small groups, they play an animal card game involving more vocabulary words. Students continue to drill on terms by completing...
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We're Zoologists!
Students listen to story, "Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo," by Karma Wilson, practice finding information from Internet, write information about one chosen zoo animal, draw picture of their zoo animal, pair up and read their My Zoo Animal...
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Frog and Toad Are Confusing
Third graders are introduced to the similiarties and differences between a frog and a toad. In groups, they compare and contrast them and identify distinguishing characteristics of each. They watch a video on the animals and answer...
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What Is It?
Play the game of Tag and differentiate between plants and animals. Explore the characteristics of plants. Identify the major parts of plants (e.g., seeds, stem, pistil) and describe their basic functions. Compare the requirements of some...
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Animal Adaptations
Fifth graders discover the adaptation of species through analyzing pictures. In this scientific discovery lesson, 5th graders discuss the concept of adaptation in order for survival. Students view many images of extinct...
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Hide In Plain Sight
Students view video clips and use the Internet to look for hidden animals. They then use the Internet to print out animal shapes and color them. They create environments on construction paper in which their animals can hide.
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Animal Alphabet
Second graders identify animals with each letter of the alphabet. In groups, they create a PowerPoint presentation which shows the information they have collected about each one. Using all of this information, they create an animal...
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Create a New Animal
Students understand what physical adaptations are and how they help an animal to survive. In this adaptations lesson, students research four animals and then make an original animal that has adaptations to make them survive.
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Creature Creation
Students explore the characteristics of dragons as represented in the myths of cultures around the world. They create their own mythical dragons by hybridizing two creatures with desirable traits and writing stories about their creation.
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Natural Communication
Students investigate communication as an adaptation by examining visual, tactile, chemical and auditory communication. They study the characteristics of the red fox an songbirds.
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An Alien Has Landed
Students identify animals within a species by using their observation skills to record information, such as behavioral characteristics.
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Clifford Learns About the Circus and So Do We!
Students investigate the characteristics of different circus jobs and the animals commonly seen at the circus. They read a book about clowns and construct and perform a trick hot dog. Students also create a clown accordion book.
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Bird Up
Third graders identify basic physical and behavioral characteristics of birds and how they adapt to their environments. To organize and share scientific information with peers. They discuss similarities and differences among birds....
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Get Ready, Get Set, Hibernate
Students match each body part or idea from a work bank about methods of animal adaptations for winter survival. They observe as the first one, food is covered with the whole class before completing the rest of the diagram. They discuss...
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Create a Critter Collage
Learners create a collage. In this animal classification lesson, students discuss why and how scientists classify animals. Learners view pictures of different animals and decide which class each animal belongs to. Students compare...