Chapter Graphic
 : Animal Families
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  Level: Year 4
Approach: Team
Focus: Recognise common characteristics of mammals.
             Revise, apply and justify a simple classification for a small sample of animals.
1MB
Resources: 3 sets of cards: SET 1— dog, horse, baby; SET 2— birds and insects (8 cards); SET 3— mouse, spider, seal, weta.

Questions / instructions:
In this activity I want everyone to help and everyone to work as a member of the team.
Give students SET 1 cards. [Group 1]
 
Here are three cards that show a dog, a horse and a baby. Sometimes scientists group these animals together.
Why do you think these animals belong together? Talk about the reasons amongst yourselves.
Allow time.
     
mean score
y4
Now tell me your reasons and I will write them down on the answer sheet.
identifies all as mammals
53
identifies all as warm blooded
14
weaker classification,
such as all have legs
24
Leave SET 1 cards on the table. Give students SET 2 cards.
[They will sort SET 2 into 2 groups: Group 2 and Group 3]

Now I am going to give you another eight cards. I want you to group these cards into two animal families. Decide together on the animals you will put in each group. When you have finished I want you to tell me what is special about each group.
Allow time.
a
a
Now tell me what is special about each of the groups of animals.
grouped 4 insects and 4 birds
84
weaker classificaion, such as wings and no wings
11
Justification:              strong
44
moderate
24
weak
24

You now have three groups on the table. I am going to give you four more cards.
Give students SET 3 cards.

I want you to decide together which group each card should go in. If you think it doesn't belong in any group just put it aside. Remember you need to think carefully about your reasons for putting the animals into groups.

a
Allow time.
Tell me where you have put the four cards.
Why did you put the mouse in that group?
correctly placed, well argued
40
correctly placed, poorly argued
39
Why did you put the seal in that group?
correctly placed, well argued
35
correctly placed, poorly argued
23
Why did you put the spider in that group?
correctly placed, well argued
19
correctly placed, poorly argued
3
Why did you put the weta in that group?
correctly placed, well argued
55
correctly placed, poorly argued
37
Commentary:
The year 4 student teams were quite successful in grouping or placing the creatures, but less successful in justifying their choices. The spider was often incorrectly added to the insects group.
 
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