Animal Kingdom Adventures: Vertebrates vs. Invertebrates

Science Grades 5th Grade 4:54 Video
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Lesson Description

Explore the amazing world of animals! Learn how scientists classify animals into two main groups: vertebrates (with a backbone) and invertebrates (without a backbone). Discover the different types of animals within each group and their unique characteristics.

Video Resource

VERTEBRATE AND INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS

Elesapiens

Duration: 4:54
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Vertebrates
  • Invertebrates
  • Classification
  • Adaptation

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define vertebrates and invertebrates.
  • Students will be able to identify the five main groups of vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
  • Students will be able to identify different groups of invertebrates: arthropods, mollusks, sponges, jellyfish, starfish, and worms.
  • Students will be able to describe key characteristics of each animal group.
  • Students will be able to give examples of different animals that are vertebrates and invertebrates

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what their favorite animal is. Write responses on the board. Then ask if any of their animals are similar in any way. Then introduce the video and explain that it will help them understand how scientists classify animals into different groups based on their characteristics.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the "VERTEBRATE AND INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS" video by Elesapiens. Instruct students to take notes on the different animal groups and their characteristics.
  • Discussion (10 mins)
    After the video, facilitate a class discussion using the discussion questions below. Encourage students to share their notes and ask clarifying questions.
  • Interactive Exercise: Animal Sort (15 mins)
    Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a set of animal cards (pictures or names). Have them sort the animals into vertebrate and invertebrate groups. Then, within each group, have them further sort the vertebrates into fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and the invertebrates into arthropods, mollusks, sponges, jellyfish, starfish, and worms.
  • Wrap-up (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts of vertebrates and invertebrates. Assign the multiple choice and fill in the blank quizzes as a formative assessment.

Interactive Exercises

  • Animal Sort
    Students work in groups to sort animal cards (pictures or names) into vertebrate and invertebrate groups, and then further classify them within each group.

Discussion Questions

  • What is the main difference between vertebrates and invertebrates?
  • What are the five groups of vertebrates? Give an example of an animal from each group.
  • What are some groups of invertebrates? Give an example of an animal from each group.
  • Why is it important to classify animals into groups?
  • How is an amphibian different from a reptile?

Skills Developed

  • Classification
  • Observation
  • Critical Thinking
  • Note-taking

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following is NOT a vertebrate?

Correct Answer: Worm

Question 2:

Animals with a backbone are called:

Correct Answer: Vertebrates

Question 3:

Which group of vertebrates lays eggs and is covered in feathers?

Correct Answer: Birds

Question 4:

Spiders, insects, and crabs belong to which invertebrate group?

Correct Answer: Arthropods

Question 5:

Which vertebrate group spends part of their life in water and part on land?

Correct Answer: Amphibians

Question 6:

Which type of invertebrate has a shell to protect it's soft body?

Correct Answer: Mollusks

Question 7:

Which of these animals is a mammal?

Correct Answer: Cat

Question 8:

Which of these animals has an elongated body and no legs?

Correct Answer: Worm

Question 9:

Which of these animals is covered in scales?

Correct Answer: Reptile

Question 10:

Which animal lives in the sea and has a sac-shaped body that isn't mobile?

Correct Answer: Sponge

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Animals that do not have a backbone are called ___________.

Correct Answer: invertebrates

Question 2:

The vertebrate group that includes animals that give birth to live young and feed them milk is called ___________.

Correct Answer: mammals

Question 3:

Animals that live in rivers and seas, have scales, fins, and gills are called ___________.

Correct Answer: fish

Question 4:

Animals that have legs to move around on land or sea and have an external skeleton are called ___________.

Correct Answer: arthropods

Question 5:

Animals that have a soft body, some of which have a shell, and long tentacles are called ___________.

Correct Answer: mollusks

Question 6:

____________ have feathers, two legs and wings.

Correct Answer: Birds

Question 7:

____________ are born like fish and develop until they turn into terrestrial vertebrates.

Correct Answer: Amphibians

Question 8:

____________ are a type of invertebrate that only live under the sea and have a sac-shaped body that is not mobile.

Correct Answer: Sponges

Question 9:

____________ are a type of invertebrate that has tentacles and move around freely.

Correct Answer: Jellyfish

Question 10:

____________ are animals that have an elongated body and no legs.

Correct Answer: Worms

Educational Standards

5.LS1:From Molecules to Organisms: Structure and Processes

Teaching Materials

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