Exploring the Animal Kingdom (1 hour)

In this investigation, students will be seated in a half circle on the floor as they learn how animals are placed into groups based on shared, common characteristics.  Students will learn what these characteristics are by comparison and contrast.  Using selected mounted and live specimens, characteristics of Mammals (fur/hair, endothermic, live birth, mother produces milk), Birds (feathers, endothermic, beak,  young hatch from egg), Reptiles (exothermic, scales on skin , lays eggs on land with soft shell), Amphibians  (exothermic, smooth skin, lays eggs in water no shell, initial stage gilled and aquatic, secondary stage terrestrial and Invertebrates (widely varied forms, wide ranging habitats, all with external skeleton and simple animals with no skeleton, incomplete to complete metamorphosis) will be examined and discussed along with sample animals.  Natural history of the specimens will be discussed, with regard to movement, feeding and habitat.  Mounted and live specimens will be brought or passed around to enable students to have a first hand, up close look at the animals. Students will recognize and be able to classify animals into one of 5 major groups based upon obvious identifiable external characteristics.