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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 45 minutes

Animal coverings: fur, feathers, scales, shells and skin

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.1-LS1-1England: KS1 Y1 Animals, including humans

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Animal coverings: fur, feathers, scales, shells and skin.

  • 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: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Animal picture cards, Habitat maps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 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.
  1. Which animal group does a penguin belong to? (mammal / fish / bird / amphibian) → birdPrompt: What covers its body: fur, feathers, scales or moist skin?
  2. Which of these animals is a reptile? (seahorse / dolphin / parrot / tortoise) → tortoisePrompt: Think about what covers each animal's body.
  3. A whale lives in the sea, breathes air with lungs and feeds its calf milk. What is it? (a mammal / a reptile / an amphibian / a fish) → a mammalPrompt: Which group feeds its young on milk?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Animal coverings: fur, feathers, scales, shells and skin. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What covers the body of this animal: frog?
  • Step 1: Amphibians have smooth skin that must stay damp.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: smooth, damp skin
  • Answer: smooth, damp skin
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What covers the body of this animal: tortoise? (feathers / scales / a hard shell / smooth, damp skin) → a hard shellPrompt: Think about what you would feel if you could (safely) stroke it.
  2. Which animal is covered in fur or hair? (duck / parrot / fox / lizard) → foxPrompt: Picture each animal's outside.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What covers the body of this animal: horse? (fur or hair / a hard shell / scales / smooth, damp skin) → fur or hairPrompt: Think about what you would feel if you could (safely) stroke it.
  2. Why does a polar bear have thick fur? (to look bigger / to swim faster / to stay warm in the freezing Arctic / to stay cool in the desert) → to stay warm in the freezing ArcticPrompt: What is the weather like where polar bears live?

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

  • 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

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Animal coverings: fur, feathers, scales, shells and skin

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which animal is covered in fur or hair?

    • A. newt
    • B. polar bear
    • C. duck
    • D. mussel

  2. Question 2

    What covers the body of this animal: snake?

    • A. fur or hair
    • B. a hard shell
    • C. smooth, damp skin
    • D. scales

  3. Question 3

    Why does a polar bear have thick fur?

    • A. to stay warm in the freezing Arctic
    • B. to stay cool in the desert
    • C. to swim faster
    • D. to look bigger

  4. Question 4

    Which animal is covered in scales?

    • A. polar bear
    • B. fox
    • C. salmon
    • D. snail

  5. Question 5

    Which animal is covered in a hard shell?

    • A. salmon
    • B. horse
    • C. parrot
    • D. snail

  6. Question 6

    What covers the body of this animal: penguin?

    • A. feathers
    • B. smooth, damp skin
    • C. fur or hair
    • D. a hard shell

  7. Question 7

    A penguin cannot fly, but it has feathers. What does that tell you?

    • A. It is a fish.
    • B. It is a mammal.
    • C. It is a bird.
    • D. It is an insect.

  8. Question 8

    Which animal is covered in smooth, damp skin?

    • A. duck
    • B. owl
    • C. salmon
    • D. newt

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Answer key: Animal coverings: fur, feathers, scales, shells and skin

  1. 1. B. polar bear

  2. 2. D. scales

  3. 3. A. to stay warm in the freezing Arctic

  4. 4. C. salmon

  5. 5. D. snail

  6. 6. A. feathers

  7. 7. C. It is a bird.

  8. 8. D. newt