Everyday you classify things. Think about it. Sorting objects and putting them into specific places is classification!
It's a way of organizing our world. We start out the day by classifying whether we will eat hot lunch or cold lunch. We sort
out the lunch cards into separate piles. How about at home? Do you have a drawer for socks? How about a cupboard in your
kitchen for storing plates and cups? Do you have a collection like football or baseball cards? If you do, you have to organize
them in some kind of order like according to team or position. That's classifying.
Just like we classify things in our everyday lives, animals are classified into various groups. This helps scientists
to study the relationships in animal groups and to see the whole animal family tree as it has developed through time. Animals
are found everywhere. We give names to each kind and we divide them into groups. Animals that have backbones are called vertebrates.
We divide these animals into five groups: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Have you ever asked "What makes
a bird a bird, or a reptile a reptile?
You and your partner will become experts on a species from the animal kingdom. You will then work together to create a Power
Point presentation on a species from the animal kingdom. You will present this slide show to your entire class. This is your
chance to be the teacher!! We will attach your presentations to Mrs. Mangrich's website so that others can see what a great
job you did.
1. Your classroom teacher will assign you a partner for you to work with. You will also be assigned the species of animal
that you are to research. You will become and expert on one animal from the following species: amphibian, bird, fish, mammal,
or reptile.
2. When you know who your partner is and which species you should research, you are ready to begin. Your first step is to
make sure you know what is expected of you. Download the Animal Data Form and the Power Point Presentation Form. Keep these
in your science folder. You will fill out the Animal Data Form while you research your animal. This will help you organize
your Power Presentation.
Click here for Animal Data Form
Click here to download Power Point directions
3. You will be given three weeks to collect the necessary information to complete the Animal Data Form. Please work cooperatively
with your partner. Each of you will have a role to play. One of you will be the 'technician' and one a 'recorder'. Make sure
you take careful and accurate notes.
4. Use the Classification Resources below to find the needed information to complete the animal data form.
5. When you are done filling out the Animal Data Form you will be ready to create your Power Point presentation. Print
out the template form for instructions on what to include in your presentation.
6. The final step will be to present your Power Point project to the class. These presentations will also
be added to Mrs. Mangrich's homepage.
Classification Resources
Now that you have become an expert on animal classification, you need to go to the presentation rubric to evaluate how
well you think you did on the project. You and your partner will fill this out together and turn in to your teacher.
Click here to download presentation rubric.
Now that you are an expert on classification and know what makes a mammal a mammal, and a reptile a reptile, please fill
in the conclusion form and turn it in to the teacher.
Click here to download Conclusion Form
