In Fur, Feathers and Scales, Classify! students will consider why and how scientists classify living things. Exploring the different vertebrate animals  in more depth, pupils will compare and contrast a range of unfamiliar objects from the natural world and use a range of criterion to classify the vertebrates represented correctly. They will also consider the issues scientists sometimes have when researching and classifying animals. 

Age:

KS2 (7-11 years)

Duration:

45 minutes

Capacity: 

35 students

Location:

Classroom and butterfly house

Intended learning outcomes:

Students will be able to;

  • List the different groupings of mammals, birds and reptiles and explain the differences between them
  • Correctly group animals into mammals, birds and reptiles
  • Give an explanation of why animals are classified into groups
  • Acknowledge their lives have an impact on environments both positively and negatively

National Curriculum links:

KS2 ScienceWorking Scientifically
  • Identify and classify
  • Record findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables;
  • Report on findings from enquiries, including oral explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions;
  • Talk about criteria of grouping, sorting and classifying and use simple keys.
Living things and their habitats
  • Use classification systems and keys to identify animals and plants;
  • Research unfamiliar animals and plants and decide where they belong in the classification systems;
  • Work of scientists;
  • Impact of humans (both positively and negatively) on environments
KS2 EnglishSpoken Language, Reading
  • Word reading, comprehension
Writing
  • Transcription, vocabulary

Additional Resources: