•Line up according to birthday•No talking or writing allowed!

• What are examples of items that are classified?

• Why are things classified?

• Is there more than one way to classify a set of items?

• If someone from China sends you a letter, how does the postal system know where you are?

• How are supermarkets organized? If you go to a new supermarket, how would you know where to find a specific brand of cheese?

Imagine that in the year 2525, a solar system in a new galaxy is discovered. Many similarities between our solar system and this new one are found, including a planet that resembles Earth. A space probe lands on this planet and sends a variety of different living organisms back to Earth through a molecular transport beam. The macroscopic and microscopic structures of each creature are described. The scientists studying these organisms realize they need to develop a classification scheme to help them compare the life forms to organisms on Earth.

Your role is to… • Study your Creepy Critters illustration cards and

observe similarities and differences

• Brainstorm a list of ways you could categorize/classify the organisms.

• Sort your cards according to one system of organization using a graphic organizer. You must be able to defend your method.

4 new organisms were just discovered.• Select 1 of the new organisms to

place in your system of organization.

• Where will it go? Why?

• Will you have to create a new group or can you find another way to fit it into an existing group?

What did we learn today?• How are organisms are classified?• What factors are most important in classification?• What benefits come from classifying organisms?• What are the major factors that differentiate one

species from another?• How would you further classify yourself as an

individual, and what traits would be important in that classification?

• Where would you begin if you had to classify an unknown plant?

EXPLANATION

Characteristic Characteristic Characteristic

Animal Name Animal Name Animal Name

Characteristic Characteristic Characteristic

Animal Name Animal Name Animal Name

• Read pages 141, 146-156 in the Sciencesaurus book.• Complete the activity sheet to use with reading

1. vertebrates and invertebrates2. backbone or no backbone3. soft bodies, hard shells, exoskeletons4.

5. mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish

Classification(group)

Live on Land Live in Water

exoskeletons spiders, ticks, scorpions, insects

lobsters, crabs, shrimp, crayfish

hard shells snails clams, oysters, scallops, mussels, snails

soft bodies earthworms, slugs jellyfish, octopi

Classification: Mammals

Body Covering hair or fur

Reproduction develop inside the mother’s body and are born live; females produce milk

Breathing breath air with lungs

Movement four limbs (arms or legs)

Classification: Birds

Body Covering feathers

Reproduction lay eggs with a hard shell

Breathing breath with lungs

Movement feet are adapted for different kinds of movement

Examples: shrew, whale, polar bears, human, dolphin, elephant

Examples: hummingbirds, chickadees, penguins

Classification: Reptiles

Body Covering dry, leathery skin or scales; some have a hard shell

Reproduction most lay eggs with a soft, leathery shell;some give birth to live young

Breathing breath with lungs

Movement legs to walk or swim; some have flippers; snakes do not have legs

Examples: snakes, lizards, turtles

Classification: Amphibians

Body Covering thin skin

Reproduction most lay jellylike eggs; a few give birth to live young

Breathing young that live in water have gills; adults who live on land have lungs; some adult salamanders don’t have lungs

Movement frogs and toads use hind legs to hop on land; salamanders run on four legs; tadpoles swim

Examples: frogs, toads, salamanders

Classification: Fish

Body Covering most have slippery scales; sharks have rough skin

Reproduction some lay eggs; others give birth to live young

Breathing breathe with gills

Movement swim by moving their tail fins

Examples: lungfish, salmon, trout

• In a group, sort the Animal Classification cards using characteristics discussed in lessons 1 and 2 (examples: vertebrates/invertebrates, body coverings, diet, etc…)

• Using a graphic organizer, show how you sorted the cards.

• What characteristics did you use to sort

your animals?• Why did you choose those characteristics to sort your animals?

• In a group, come up with a different set of characteristics to sort the animals using the same set of cards.

• Using a graphic organizer, show how you sorted the cards.

• What new characteristics did you use to sort your animals?

• Why is it important to sort animals into groups?

• Why do scientists sort animals into groups?

• What are some other things that scientists might classify into groups?

• What is classification?

• Why is it important to sort animals into groups?

• Why do scientists sort animals into groups?

• As we view this powerpoint presentation, pay close attention to the various adaptations of the animals presented.

• Look at how these adaptations affect what type of environment these animals live.

Adaptations of Birds

A structure or behavior that helps an organism

survive in its surroundings.

BEAKSPouch-likeLong, thinPointedCurvedShort, stoutSlender, long

Pelican

Pouch-like Can hold the fish it

eats

Avocet

Long, thin beak Can probe shallow

water and mud for the insects it eats

Woodpecker

Pointed Beak Can break and

probe bark of trees for the insects it eats

Hawk

Curved beak Can tear solid

tissue for the meat it eats

Finch

Short, stout beak Can crack the

seeds and nuts it eats

Hummingbird

Slender, long beak Can probe the

flowers for nectar it eats

FEETWebbedLong ToesClawedGrasping

Duck

Webbed feet Aids in walking on

mud and swimming

Crane

Long toes Aids in walking on

mud

Heron

Long toes Aids in walking on

mud

Hawk and eagle

Clawed Can grasp food

when hunting prey

Chicken

Grasping feet Aids in sitting on

branches, roosting, protection

LEGSFlexor tendonsLong, powerfulLong, slenderPowerful muscles

Ostrich

Long, powerful legs Aids running

Heron and Crane

Long, slender legs Aids walking

Eagle and Hawk

Powerful muscles Aids in lifting,

carrying prey

WINGSLarge span

Eagle

Large wings Aids in flying with

prey, soaring while hunting

COLORATIONBright plumageDull plumageChange of plumage for seasons

Owl

Change of plumage with seasons

Provides camouflage protection ( brown in summer, white in winter)

Ptarmigan

Provides camouflage protection

Change of plumage with seasons

Male birds vs. female birds

Male birds – bright plumage aids in attraction in courtship, mating rituals

Female birds – Dull plumage aids in camouflage while nesting

Male or female?

Female

Male

Male or Female?

Male

Female

Fashion A FishAquatic animals are the

result of countless adaptations over time.

Adaptations are features that increase the animals

likelihood of survival.

Adaptations

Mouth

Body Shape

Coloration

Reproduction

Mouth Adaptation

Sucker-shaped mouthElongated upper jawElongated lower jawDuckbill jawsExtremely large jaws

Sucker-Shaped mouth

Feeds on very small plants and animals

CarpSucker

Elongated Upper Jaw

Feeds on prey it looks down on

Spoonbill

Sturgeon

Elongated Lower Jaw

Feeds on prey it sees above

Snook

Barracuda

Duckbill Jaws

Grasps prey

Muskellunge

Pike

Extremely Large Jaws

Surrounds prey

Grouper

Bass

Body Shape

Torpedo ShapeFlat BelliedVertical DiskHorizontal DiskHump backed

Torpedo Shape

Fast moving

Trout

Salmon

Tuna

Flat Bellied Bottom Feeder

Catfish

Sucker Fish

Vertical Disk

Feeds above or below

BluegillButterfish

Horizontal Disk

Bottom Dweller

FlounderHalibut

Hump backed

Stable in fast-moving water

Sockeye Salmon

Chub

Razorback

Coloration

Light-colored BellyDark Upper SideVertical StripesHorizontal StripesMottled Color

Light-colored Belly

Predators have difficulty seeing it from below

Mackerel

PerchMinnows

Tuna

Dark Upper Side

Predators have difficulty seeing it from above

Flounder

Bluegill

Crappie

Vertical Stripes

Can hide in vegetation

Muskellunge

Bluegill

Pickerel

Horizontal Stripes

Can hide in vegetation

Striped Bass

Snook

Mottled Coloration

Can hide in rocks and on bottom

Grouper

Rockbass Hogsucker

Reproduction

Eggs deposited in bottomEggs deposited in nestsFloating eggsEggs attached to vegetationLive bearers

Eggs deposited in bottom

Hidden from predator

Minnows

Trout

Salmon

Eggs deposited in nests

Protected by adults

Stickleback

Floating Eggs

Dispersed in high numbers

Striped Bass

Eggs attached to vegetation

Stable until hatching

Pike

Perch

Carp

Live bearers

High survival rate

Guppies

• Create your own original bird/fish.• Use the adaptations of:

• Birds: beak, feet, legs, wings, and coloration to create an original bird.

• Fish: mouth, body shape, coloration, and reproduction.

• Write a short essay that includes the name of your original bird, its food sources, habitat and lifestyle.

• Must be neat and use color.

Lesson 4-Fashion A Fish Scoring Guide

Student:

ILLUSTRATION1 point for each requirement

____Name of fish____Drawing of fish

____Drawing of the habitat____Color

____NeatnessESSAY

1 point for each requirement____Habitat____Mouth

____Body shape____Coloration

____Reproduction

____/10 TOTAL

Lesson 4-Adaptation Artistry Scoring Guide

Student:

ILLUSTRATION1 point for each requirement

____Name of bird____Drawing of bird

____Drawing of the habitat____Color

ESSAY1 point for each requirement

____Habitat____Beak____Feet____Legs

____Wings____Coloration

• Read pages 142, 107, 86-87, 96-97 in the Sciencesaurus book.

• Complete the activity sheet to after reading

• With a partner, sort one set of plant cards• Sort your cards according to one system of

organization using a graphic organizer.

• Sciencesaurus•Read pages 350-353 in your Sciencesaurus book.

•Complete with activity sheet

• Project: students find information about endangered/threatened/extinct species

• Students use graphic organizer on page 38 to list

• List of endangered/threatened specieshttp://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/StateListing.do?state=all

or http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/lists/minnesot-spp.html