|
Generated on 9/13/2025 at 10:34 PM |
The webpage this document was printed/exported from can be found at the following URL:
https://www.cpalms.org//PreviewStandard/Preview/1659
https://www.cpalms.org//PreviewStandard/Preview/1659
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.
Standard #: SC.3.L.15.1
Standard Information
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
Content Complexity Rating:
Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
-
More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
Related Courses
- Science - Grade Three (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) # 5020040
- Access Science Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current)) # 7720040
- STEM Lab Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) # 5020100
Related Access Points
- 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
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 type, they will sort new animals into their groups based on the characteristics they identified.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
-
Adding Up to the Central Idea #
In this lesson, students will use informational texts about spiders to find the central idea of the texts based on relevant details. Students will create a poster with multimedia elements along with relevant details and central idea from a text about an arachnid at the end of the lesson.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dr. Friendly's Zoo Exhibit # In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), 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. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
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.
- Part 2, Animal Classification: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
-
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.
- Part 2, Animal Classification: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
-
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.
- Part 1, Animal Classification: Groups
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
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.
- Whale Watching Logic-SeaWorld Classroom Activity # In this activity, the students will develop logic skills by classifying animals by attributes.
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
- Dr. Friendly's Zoo Exhibit # In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), 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. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
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.
- Part 1, Animal Classification: Groups
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
-
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.
- Part 2, Animal Classification: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced
-
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.
- Part 2, Animal Classification: Vertebrates and Invertebrates
- Part 3, Animal Classification: Ways That Animals Are Produced