Rational

This unit entitled Classifying Animals is designed for 3rd grade. The unit will integrate

many academic disciplines while teaching students about the classification of animals with

specifics such as a compare and contrast with invertebrates, analyzing characteristics of

mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds, and discovering traits of black bears.

Students will do a variety of activities to enhance their learning. First, the students will

compare and contrast invertebrates vs. vertebrates. Then, the students will discover what makes a

vertebrate a vertebrate and the parts of the spinal column. After that, the students will experience

types of animals in the animal kingdom such as reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.

Next, students will explore details about the black bear and hibernation. Finally, students will

participate in a review of the weeks unit coving all the previous material. According to the

Pennsylvania Department of Education Standard 3.1.3.A1- Describe characteristics of living

things that help to identify and classify them students must be about to classify different animals

into categories based on traits.

When the unit is complete, the students will be able to describe the difference between a

vertebrate and invertebrate, to label the different parts of the vertebrate, compare and contrast the

traits of reptile, amphibian, mammal, fish, birds, and distinguish characteristics of a black bear.