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Science lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 60 minutes

Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.1-LS1-1CCSS NGSS.3-LS4-2England: KS1 Y1 Animals, including humans

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians.

  • 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: Living and non-living things

Leads to: Animal life cycles; Vertebrates and invertebrates; Animal body parts and the jobs they do

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

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Living and non-living things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is it living or never alive: child? (living / never alive) → livingPrompt: Does it grow and need food?
  2. Which of these has never been alive? (cloud / earthworm / mushroom / grass) → cloudPrompt: Living things grow, feed and have young.
  3. Living things: which statement is true? (Only animals are living things. / Living things grow. / Trees are not alive because they do not move around. / Clouds are alive because they move and grow.) → Living things grow.Prompt: Living things grow, feed and have young.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which animal group does a crocodile belong to?
  • Step 1: Reptiles have dry, scaly skin and most lay eggs on land.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: reptile
  • Answer: reptile
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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. Which animal group does a frog belong to? (reptile / fish / mammal / amphibian) → amphibianPrompt: What covers its body: fur, feathers, scales or moist skin?
  2. Which of these animals is a bird? (eagle / shark / dog / salmon) → eaglePrompt: Think about what covers each animal's body.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which of these animals is a reptile? (axolotl / robin / tuna / snake) → snakePrompt: Think about what covers each animal's body.
  2. A penguin cannot fly. Why is it still a bird? (It is black and white. / It has feathers and a beak and lays eggs. / It lives where it is cold. / It swims in the sea.) → It has feathers and a beak and lays eggs.Prompt: What do all birds have?

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: Living and non-living things.
  • 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: Animal life cycles; Vertebrates and invertebrates; Animal body parts and the jobs they do.
  • 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 groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which of these animals is a bird?

    • A. lizard
    • B. parrot
    • C. newt
    • D. chameleon

  2. Question 2

    A frog's young live in water and breathe with gills, then grow lungs. What group is it?

    • A. amphibians
    • B. reptiles
    • C. fish
    • D. mammals

  3. Question 3

    Which animal group does a tortoise belong to?

    • A. amphibian
    • B. bird
    • C. mammal
    • D. reptile

  4. Question 4

    Which of these animals is a fish?

    • A. cod
    • B. chameleon
    • C. eagle
    • D. ostrich

  5. Question 5

    A whale lives in the sea, breathes air with lungs and feeds its calf milk. What is it?

    • A. an amphibian
    • B. a mammal
    • C. a fish
    • D. a reptile

  6. Question 6

    Which animal group does a lizard belong to?

    • A. amphibian
    • B. mammal
    • C. reptile
    • D. bird

  7. Question 7

    Which of these animals is a reptile?

    • A. tortoise
    • B. parrot
    • C. kangaroo
    • D. cod

  8. Question 8

    A penguin cannot fly. Why is it still a bird?

    • A. It lives where it is cold.
    • B. It swims in the sea.
    • C. It is black and white.
    • D. It has feathers and a beak and lays eggs.

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Answer key: Animal groups: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians

  1. 1. B. parrot

  2. 2. A. amphibians

  3. 3. D. reptile

  4. 4. A. cod

  5. 5. B. a mammal

  6. 6. C. reptile

  7. 7. A. tortoise

  8. 8. D. It has feathers and a beak and lays eggs.