Fin, Feathers, or Fur?

Designed by: Sallie Jameson    School: Meadowfield Elementary

Grade level: kindergarten    Subject: Science

Core Curriculum Objectives: Identify and name animals.  (KSLS-1)

Overview: To introduce a unit on animals and to learn about characteristics of animals, the students will observe a variety of animals and graph their characteristics. The teacher will give each student a picture of an animal. The teacher will encourage them to look for details. Does the animal have fur, feathers, how many legs, feet etc.? Each student will graph their animals characteristics on a graph prepared by the teacher. After completing the graph, the students will identify the similarities and differences of animals.

Essential Question: What is the name of this animal?

Time Frame: one lesson, 20 minutes 30 minutes of center time

Resources/Materials: A different animal for each student A graph prepared by the teacher (see below) Chart paper and marker Books: Granddad's Animal Alphabet Book By Thomas Parker Wright Emily the Giraffe By Pascal Lemaitre The Fish that Wasn't By Paul Borovsky More animal stories: web site http://wwwffhamiltonbook.com/subject2/ani.htm/ Crayons and paper for each student Field Trip to the Zoo A variety of animal mask Animal Picture Archive best5.net/animal(web site depicting pictures of animals and sounds of animals)

Assessment: Rubric Student will identify and name 8 animals Proficient Student will identify and name 6 to 8 animals Partially Proficient Students will identify and name less than 6 animals Needs improvement

Instructional Activities:

1. After a trip to the zoo the teacher will tell the students they are going to learn more about animals and their names. 

2. The teacher will read the book Granddad's Animal Alphabet Book by Thomas Parker Wright. 

3. After brainstorming with the students the teacher will make a list on chart paper of different kinds of animals. 

4. The teacher will explain the definition of "characteristics" and give examples. For example: fur, feathers, scales etc. 

5. Each student will choose a picture of an animal. 

6. The teacher will allow each student to show and tell their animals individual characteristics and say the name of the animal. The teacher will guide the discussion and encourage the student to be observant. 

7. During center time, the students will work in groups of three to graph their animal's characteristics and work with a teacher on the computer. 

8. One group will work with the assistant looking at the website, animal Picture Archive best5.net/animal. This web site shows pictures of animals and the sound animals make. 

9. One group will work with the teacher to graph characteristics of their animal they chose. The teacher will show the students a graph, prepared by the teacher, listing the variety of characteristics. (See below) The students work together to color above the squares that relate to their animals characteristic. (For example: If the picture is a dog, the student will color the square above 4 legs, nose, eyes, ears, mouth fur, tail, neck, paws, claws) 

10. Other groups will choose a center relating to animals. The book center will have a variety of animal books for students to share. The writing center will have animal pictures and names for students to copy. The art center will have crayons and paper for students to draw an animal. The home living center will have mask representing a variety of animal. 

11. After each group has completed their turn graphing and working on the computer, the teacher and students will sit in a circle to analysis the results of the graph. The teacher will ask the questions: What characteristic do all animals have? What characteristic do most animals have? How are animals alike? How are animals different? The students take turns naming the animals. 

12. The teacher will ask the students what kinds of animals do they have at home. 

13. The completed graph and pictures of the animals will be hung in the hall for other kindergarten and/or first grade classes to use. The other teachers can gather their students to analysis the graph and name the animals.

Graph example:

Horse

Fish

Duck

Bird

Lion

Dog

Giraffe

Goose

Two legs four legs nose eyes ears mouth wings feathers fur tail neck hands paws claws fins scales beak