Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
Animal body parts and the jobs they do
Animals and habitats
CCSS NGSS.1-LS1-1England: KS1 Y1 Animals, including humans
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Animal body parts and the jobs they do.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians
Leads to: Inventions inspired by animals and plants; Internal and external structures of animals
Materials: Animal picture cards, Habitat maps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which animal group does a chicken belong to? (amphibian / bird / fish / mammal) → birdPrompt: What covers its body: fur, feathers, scales or moist skin?
- Which of these animals is a reptile? (owl / salmon / crocodile / robin) → crocodilePrompt: Think about what covers each animal's body.
- A bat flies at night. What group does it belong to? (birds / insects / reptiles / mammals) → mammalsPrompt: Bats have fur and feed their babies milk.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
- Share the objective: Animal body parts and the jobs they do. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: What job does this body part do: a butterfly's long tongue (proboscis)?
- Step 1: It uncurls like a straw to reach deep into flowers.
- Step 2: So the answer is: to sip nectar from flowers
- Answer: to sip nectar from flowers
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- What job does this body part do: a porcupine's quills? (to keep enemies away / to protect its soft body / to pick up and eat food / to grip and carry prey) → to keep enemies awayPrompt: Think about where the animal lives and what it eats.
- Which body part helps an animal feel its way in the dark? (a duck's webbed feet / an eagle's sharp claws (talons) / a tortoise's shell / a cat's whiskers) → a cat's whiskersPrompt: Picture the animal doing the job.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which body part helps an animal grab food and suck up water? (a fish's gills / a butterfly's long tongue (proboscis) / a duck's webbed feet / an elephant's trunk) → an elephant's trunkPrompt: Picture the animal doing the job.
- A parrot has a short, strong, hooked beak. What is it good for? (sipping nectar / digging tunnels / cracking open nuts and seeds / catching fish underwater) → cracking open nuts and seedsPrompt: Strong and short works like a nutcracker.
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians.
- Use concrete materials: animal picture cards.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Inventions inspired by animals and plants; Internal and external structures of animals.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder