S2.2.2 For the adult
Grouping animals
Is a whale a fish?
What this chapter teaches
Animals with a backbone fall into five groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. An insect has six legs and three body parts, and a spider has eight legs and two, so a spider is not an insect. Living in the sea does not make an animal a fish.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- A whale lives in the sea. Which group is it in, and what tells you?
- How can you tell an insect from a spider by counting?
- What clue would you use to sort a frog from a lizard?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Group animals into mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians
- Tell an insect from a spider by counting legs and body parts
What they copy into their notebook
Mammals have fur and feed milk to young. Birds have feathers. Fish have gills and fins. Reptiles have dry scales. Amphibians have damp skin. An insect has 6 legs and 3 parts. A spider has 8 legs and 2 parts.