Amazing Animals: Classifying Creatures!

Science Grades 2nd Grade 4:59 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about the amazing world of animals and how scientists put them into groups based on their characteristics!

Video Resource

Animal Classification for Kids

Rock 'N Learn

Duration: 4:59
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Animal classification
  • Vertebrates vs. Invertebrates
  • Characteristics of animal groups (arthropods, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the six major animal groups (arthropods, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals).
  • Students will be able to describe at least one characteristic of each animal group.
  • Students will be able to classify animals based on their characteristics.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what their favorite animals are. Lead a brief discussion about why they like those animals. Introduce the idea that scientists group animals based on what they have in common.
  • Video Time! (10 mins)
    Play the "Animal Classification for Kids" video by Rock 'N Learn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfCRaUXlfiw). Encourage students to pay attention to the characteristics of each animal group. Pause the video at each animal group segment to allow for discussion.
  • Group Discussion (10 mins)
    After the video, discuss each animal group in more detail. Ask students what they remember about arthropods, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Write down the key characteristics on the board.
  • Animal Sorting Activity (15 mins)
    Provide students with pictures of various animals (printed or projected). Have them sort the animals into the correct groups based on the characteristics discussed. This can be done individually, in pairs, or as a whole class activity.

Interactive Exercises

  • Animal Charades
    Students act out different animals, and the rest of the class guesses which animal group it belongs to.
  • Build-an-Animal
    Provide students with construction paper, markers, and other craft supplies. Have them create their own imaginary animal and describe which animal group it would belong to and why.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the biggest difference between a fish and a bird?
  • Why do amphibians live both in water and on land?
  • What are some things that all mammals have in common?

Skills Developed

  • Observation
  • Classification
  • Critical Thinking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which animal group has an exoskeleton?

Correct Answer: Arthropods

Question 2:

Which animal group breathes with gills when they are young?

Correct Answer: Amphibians

Question 3:

Which animal group has feathers?

Correct Answer: Birds

Question 4:

Which animal group usually has hair or fur?

Correct Answer: Mammals

Question 5:

Which animal group lays eggs with scales?

Correct Answer: Reptiles

Question 6:

Fish live in?

Correct Answer: The Ocean

Question 7:

Which animal group feeds their babies milk?

Correct Answer: Mammals

Question 8:

Which of these is an Arthropod?

Correct Answer: Spider

Question 9:

What covers the skin of reptiles?

Correct Answer: Scales

Question 10:

Which of these animals is a mammal?

Correct Answer: Dog

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Animals with a spine are called _______________.

Correct Answer: vertebrates

Question 2:

_______________ have moist, hairless skin.

Correct Answer: Amphibians

Question 3:

Birds have _______________ and wings.

Correct Answer: feathers

Question 4:

_______________ lay eggs on land and have scales.

Correct Answer: Reptiles

Question 5:

_______________ have segmented bodies and jointed legs.

Correct Answer: Arthropods

Question 6:

Fish use __________ to breathe underwater.

Correct Answer: gills

Question 7:

Mammals breathe _________.

Correct Answer: air

Question 8:

Mammals have __________ or fur.

Correct Answer: hair

Question 9:

Birds walk on two __________.

Correct Answer: legs

Question 10:

Most mammals are _________ alive, not hatched from an egg.

Correct Answer: born

Educational Standards

2.LS4.1:Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats. 2.PS1.1:Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.

Teaching Materials

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