Animal Classification Lesson Plans

First graders explore different animal classifications.

Learners participate in an on site activity about animal classification at the Minnesota Zoo. While at the zoo and on the different trails, students answer questions about different animals found in each trail. They also choose any animal to watch for 10 minutes and record their observations and draw a picture of the animal.

Third graders work in small groups to investigate the how to sort a variety of items into groups and subgroups. They work on a class chart based on the activity which show how the items are classified based on commonalities. Upon completion of the classification exercise, they complete a KWL chart about Animal Classification. Finally, they discuss the reasons why scientists classify animals and how they determine the schema for doing so.

Sort animals by characteristics that help define the type of animal it is with young scholars. They will photograph, find pictures, read non-fiction texts, observe body parts, and sort animals by their characteristics. After taking a field trip to the zoo, they will create sketches, pictures, and cards to create a sorting activity based on the criteria. The will also use informational texts for information and pictures.

Young scholars examine the characteristics of animals.  For this animal classifications lesson students fill out classification worksheets and answer questions on what they learned.

Students participate in an animal classification activity from the Minnesota Zoo. Using a list of animals form a word bank, they identify animals pictured on a worksheet and discover they are all the different types of Vertebrate animals in the classification system.

Students classify animals. In this animal classification lesson, students identify characteristics from each of the 5 categories of vertebrates. Students group animals by categories.

Third graders complete a unit of lessons on the distinguishing characteristics of five classes of vertebrates. They differentiate between vertebrates and invertebrates, assemble a rodent skeleton, observe an experiment, and compose a poem.

Third graders differentiate between vertebrates and invertebrates, and identify the main characteristics of mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. They sort and categorize different types of balls, discuss the characteristics of five types of vertebrates, and participate in a characteristic identification game.

Students use taxonomy in practical setting of the zoo. They practice identifying animals using their knowledge and understanding of taxonomy, phylum characteristics, and binomial nomenclature.