Fourth Grade Science By: Genna Scalf What Kind of Animal Am I? Fourth Grade Science By: Genna Scalf

Learning Objective & Standards Learning Objective: After completing this tutorial, you will be able to distinguish between the different groups of animals based on their characteristics. Content Standard: 5.0 Diversity and Adaptation Among Living Things 5.1 Realize that plants and animals can be grouped according to similarities and differences in their characteristics. 4.5.spi.2 compare and contrast groups of organisms according to their major characteristics.

Animals… There are two types of animals: vertebrates and invertebrates. Within the group of vertebrates are the following subgroups: mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. Although each of these animals has a backbone, each subgroup has certain characteristics that make it different from the other subgroups.

Mammals… Feed milk to their young Have hair Birth live young

Birds… Have feathers Lay eggs Are warm-blooded

Amphibians… Change body temperature with the environment Live in water or on land Hatch from an egg

Reptiles… Have dry, scaly skin Hatch from eggs Are cold-blooded

Fish… Breathe through gills Are cold-blooded Live in water

Summary There are 5 groups of vertebrate animals… Mammals: feed milk to their young; have hair or fur; and birth live young. Birds: have feathers; lay eggs; and are warm-blooded. Amphibians: change body temperature with the environment; live in water or on land; and hatch from an egg. Reptiles: have dry, scaly skin; hatch from eggs; and are cold-blooded. Fish: breathe through gills; are cold-blooded; and live in the water.

Review Here is a video to review what you have learned about the different groups of animals. See if you can figure out what group is being described.

Interesting… Largest mammal: the blue whale - weighs more than 20 elephants! Smallest mammal: the shrew - smaller than your finger! The duck-billed platypus and the spiny anteater are the only two mammals that lay eggs. Snakes are reptiles that do not lay eggs. The eggs are hatched inside the body of the snake and then they give birth to live young.

Resources Scott Foresman Science (2003). Pearson Education, Inc. Images retrieved from http://www.pics4learning.com/ Video retrieved from http://teachertube.com/

Exit