Introduction
Welcome 3rd graders! Around the world, there are thousands of different animal species. Some are warm-blooded, while others are cold-blooded. Some fly in the air, some walk on the land, and some swim in the sea. These thousands of animal species can be extremely different from one another; however, they can all be catagorized into a limited number of catagories. These catagories include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, vertebrates and invertebrates. Animals can also be classified based on whether they have live births or lay eggs. Each of these catagories of animals share similar behaviors and physical characteristics.
Standard:
SC.3.L.15.1 - Classify animals into major groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, vertebrates and invertebrates, those having live births and those which lay eggs) according to their physical characteristics and behaviors.
Task
Each group will pick a specific animal classification - mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, or arthropods. They will then research their chosen animal classification using provided web pages.
You will come together to create a poster displaying the collected information regarding your chosen animal classification. The group will then work together to present their findings to the class. Let the journey begin!
Process
This section describes how you should conduct your research and what information should be collected. As said earlier, each group will be able to choose a classification of animal - mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, or arthropods. Be sure to let me know what classification you have chosen!
Some of the things that need to be researched for each classification include the physical apperance, behavior, feeding habits, how they raise their young, where they live, etc. Also, try to find pictures of several different species within these classifications. Try assigning a specific characteristic for each group member to reasearch. It may be helpful to create some type of graphic organizer in which to combine your collected information.
For help with your reserach, try using the sites below:
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals
http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/animal_classes.htm
http://lib.colostate.edu/wildlife/type.html
http://animals.about.com/od/animal-facts/tp/animal-groups.htm
http://sciencecastle.com/sc/index.php/animalspecies/show
After your research is completed, it is time to start the poster board. Be sure to include all important information that you have collected! Make sure that the titles are large enough for everyone in the class ro read from a distance, include photographs as examples, and make it colorful. You will then present your poster board to the class. Be sure to explain as much as you can about the classification you researched.
Evaluation
|
Category |
Fail | Poor | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| Poster - The poster is visually appealing, free of clutter, includes pictures and other graphics, presents the information in a clear, organized manner, and is easy to read. | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| Quality of Information - The information is presented in clear, structured sentences, relates to the main topic, includes supporting details, and all required information is included. | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| Presentation - The presentation is informative and easy to understand. | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| Participation - Each group member has participated in the research, creation, and presentation of the project. | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| Mechanics - No grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors are present. | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
Conclusion
Congratulations! Through your research, you have learned all about the various classifications of animal species. As you can now see, although there are many different species of animals, many of them share similar characteristics that allow them to be placed into these various classifications. You have grown your own understanding of this topic while also presenting your research to your fellow classmates to help educate them.