SC.3.L.15.1

Classify animals into major groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, vertebrates and invertebrates, those having live births and those which lay eggs) according to their physical characteristics and behaviors.
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 3
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Big Idea: Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms -

A. Earth is home to a great diversity of living things, but changes in the environment can affect their survival.

B. Individuals of the same kind often differ in their characteristics and sometimes the differences give individuals an advantage in surviving and reproducing.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5020040: Science - Grade Three (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7720040: Access Science Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
5020100: STEM Lab Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SC.3.L.15.In.1: Classify animals by a similar physical characteristic, such as fur, feathers, and number of legs.
SC.3.L.15.Su.1: Sort common animals by observable characteristics.
SC.3.L.15.Pa.1: Match animals that are the same.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Gr. 3 Lesson 3-Hurry for a Habitat!:

Students will use a relay race activity to reinforce knowledge gained in Lesson One. They will demonstrate understanding of the different habitats of the Everglades and the flora and fauna found in each one.

Type: Lesson Plan

Gr. 3 Lesson 1-Classifying Everglades Animals and Their Habitats:

Students will learn about and become familiar with the different habitats of the Everglades and the flora and fauna found in each one.

Type: Lesson Plan

Animal Invention Challenge:

Students will learn about animal classification and animal characteristics by making connections to classification and attributes of shapes. Students will use what they have learned to complete a design challenge where they will act as a biomimetic engineer and brainstorm animal characteristics that could be used to create a variety of useful inventions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Classification of Vertebrates:

Students will classify vertebrates into groups based on their characteristics. Students will begin with a galley walk of vertebrates in which they examine images of animals and identify characteristics of each type. Once they determine the characteristics of each they will sort new animals into their groups based on the characteristics they identified.

Type: Lesson Plan

Animal Habitat Diorama:

Students will complete a research project on an animal using the provided research guide and rubric. Students will create a diorama of their animal within their habitat. The diorama will include other animals and plants that might be found within that habitat in order to demonstrate an understanding of animal habitats and environmental adaptations.

 

Type: Lesson Plan

Feathered Friends: A Lesson about Birds:

Have you ever wondered why all birds have feathers but not all birds can fly? In this lesson students will learn some physical and behavioral characteristics of birds. Students will be able to write down what they know, what they want to know, and what they have learned on a KWL chart. They will classify bird picture cards and complete a Venn diagram demonstrating their understanding of birds.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who's at the Zoo? A Reptile and Mammal Lesson:

Have you ever wondered what makes a reptile a reptile or a mammal a mammal? In this lesson, students will learn the physical and behavioral characteristics that represent reptiles and mammals. Students will be able to organize new information on a T-Chart, sort reptile and mammal picture clue cards, and complete a Venn diagram demonstrating their understanding of what represents reptiles and mammals. This lesson intentionally only covers mammals and reptiles, the other animal groups will need to be covered for full mastery of the aligned science standard.

Type: Lesson Plan

Adding Up to the Main Idea:

In this lesson, students will use non-fiction books on the subject of spiders to find key details in the text that lead them to the main idea. Students will use a graphic organizer that shows the concept as a math problem in which the key details from the text are added up to find the main idea. At the end of the lesson, students will create a poster utilizing key details and main idea from a book about an arachnid.

Type: Lesson Plan

What am I? Classifying Living Things:

In this lesson, students will learn how to classify animals. First, they will learn vertebrate versus invertebrate. Next, they will learn the animal classifications: mammal, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, and arthropod. They will practice sorting these animals by different attributes and then do a short research project on one animal classification, which they will share with the class.

 

Type: Lesson Plan

An Egg Is Quiet:

Through a variety of simple activities students observe and describe changes involving eggs.

Type: Lesson Plan

Animain Idea (Animal Main Idea):

In this lesson, the students will use key details to identify the main idea of informational text about vertebrates.

Type: Lesson Plan

Animap:

Are you looking for a lesson that takes basic understanding on the classification of animals to the next level? This lesson incorporates student knowledge on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, along with a creative twist! Armed with what students have learned about animal physical characteristic and/or behaviors, students will create an original map of a zoo that classifies or groups these animals accordingly.

Type: Lesson Plan

Dr. Friendly's Zoo Exhibit:

Dr. Friendly owns a zoo. He wants to create an exciting new zoo exhibit where two or more different mammals live and interact together. Help Dr. Friendly select the best pairings of mammals from the data provided.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Animal Classification Part 3: Ways That Animals Are Produced:

Help Detective Pup investigate how different types of animals reproduce in this interactive tutorial.

This is the third in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Animal Classification Part 2: Vertebrates and Invertebrates:

Help Detective Pup compare and contrast animals that are classified as vertebrates and invertebrates in this interactive tutorial.

This is the second in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Animal Classification Part 1: Groups:

Investigate 11 different groups of animals with Detective Pup and the traits that make each group unique in this interactive tutorial.

This is the first in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Ideas

Seal and Sea Lion Venn Diagram-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, students will create a Venn diagram showing sets of the characteristics of seals and sea lions.

Type: Teaching Idea

Invertebrate "Heads Up 7 Up"-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, the student will identify biographical information about various tidepool animals.

Type: Teaching Idea

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other:

As a result of this activity, students will be able to determine the characteristics that distinguish groups of organisms.

Type: Teaching Idea

Whale Watching Logic-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, the students will develop logic skills by classifying animals by attributes.

Type: Teaching Idea

WebQuest

Are Chickens the Only Ones?:

Did you know that there are many kinds of animals that lay eggs? You can find out about different kinds of egg laying animals on this WebQuest.

Type: WebQuest

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

Dr. Friendly's Zoo Exhibit:

Dr. Friendly owns a zoo. He wants to create an exciting new zoo exhibit where two or more different mammals live and interact together. Help Dr. Friendly select the best pairings of mammals from the data provided.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8

Animal Classification Part 1: Groups:

Investigate 11 different groups of animals with Detective Pup and the traits that make each group unique in this interactive tutorial.

This is the first in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Animal Classification Part 2: Vertebrates and Invertebrates:

Help Detective Pup compare and contrast animals that are classified as vertebrates and invertebrates in this interactive tutorial.

This is the second in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Animal Classification Part 3: Ways That Animals Are Produced:

Help Detective Pup investigate how different types of animals reproduce in this interactive tutorial.

This is the third in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorials

Animal Classification Part 3: Ways That Animals Are Produced:

Help Detective Pup investigate how different types of animals reproduce in this interactive tutorial.

This is the third in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Animal Classification Part 2: Vertebrates and Invertebrates:

Help Detective Pup compare and contrast animals that are classified as vertebrates and invertebrates in this interactive tutorial.

This is the second in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Animal Classification Part 1: Groups:

Investigate 11 different groups of animals with Detective Pup and the traits that make each group unique in this interactive tutorial.

This is the first in a 3-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in the series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

WebQuest

Are Chickens the Only Ones?:

Did you know that there are many kinds of animals that lay eggs? You can find out about different kinds of egg laying animals on this WebQuest.

Type: WebQuest

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Teaching Idea

Whale Watching Logic-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity, the students will develop logic skills by classifying animals by attributes.

Type: Teaching Idea