Animal Classification

We are going to finish out the school year by revisiting our favourite science unit on animals. We learned earlier in the year that animals can be placed into different groupings. We studied 6 groupings: mammals, fish, birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. Today we are going to look at how those 6 groupings can be classified, or sorted, into 2 groups. These groups are vertebrates and invertebrates.

vertebrates: animals with spines, or backbones           

invertebrates: animals that do NOT have backbones

Mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and reptiles are all vertebrates. Insects are invertebrates. Watch the video link below to review the characteristics of 5 of these groups of animals (mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles) and to learn more about vertebrates and invertebrates:

Animal Classification Video

After watching the video, answer these questions:

1. Are most of the animals in the world vertebrates or invertebrates?
2. Which of the 5 animal groups mentioned are cold blooded?
3. What animal groups lay eggs?
4. What is the only animal group that has ears that stick out?

List 5 animals that are invertebrates and 5 animals that are vertebrates. Tomorrow we will have a closer look at insects.