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Animal Parts and Functions

Animal Parts and Functions

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to identify parts of plants such as roots, stem, and leaves and parts of animals such as head, eyes, and limbs.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments.

Science Background

Animal Facts: National Geographic (website) – Amazing clickable list of animals. Each description includes basic information about the animal and a high quality photograph.

Animal Facts
National Geographic, nationalgeographic.com

Wildlife Fact Sheets: Texas Parks and Wildlife (PDF) – Information about a wide range of Texas amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles.

Wildlife Fact Sheets
Texas Parks and Wildlife, www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Bird Anatomy and Bird Parts: All-Birds (website) - Information about the basics of bird anatomy.

Bird Anatomy and Bird Parts
All-Birds, www.all-birds.com

Signature Lesson

How are animals alike and different? Education Service Center, Region 20 (PDF) – Students learn to identify and describe parts of animals, and sort animals according to their physical characteristics.

How are animals alike and different?
Education Service Center, Region 20 dkc.esc20.net

Supporting Lessons

Ladybug: Earth’s Birthday Project (PDF) – Observe the physical characteristics and body parts of a ladybug.

Ladybug
Earth’s Birthday Project, earthsbirthday.org

Use these instructions to create a ladybug habitat.

Ladybug Habitat
Earth’s Birthday Projectearthsbirthday.org

Animal Bodies: National Geographic (PDF) – Teacher guide built around the Animal Bodies read aloud book. The lessons and student sheets can be adapted for use without the book.

Animal Bodies - Teacher's Guide
National Geographic, www.ngsp.com

Animal Bodies - Student Pages
National Geographic, www.ngsp.com

Birdie on My Finger: SeaWorld/Busch Gardens (PDF) - Identify bird body parts and adaptations (feathers, wings, bill, tail, etc) while creating paper finger puppets.

Birdie on My Finger
SeaWorld/Busch Gardens, www.swbg-animals.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Ladybugs and Grasshoppers: Texas A & M University, Department of Entomology (website) - Set of activities that help students learn the parts of an insect and how each part helps the insect live, grow and survive in its environment.

Ladybugs and Grasshoppers
Texas A & M University, Department of Entomology, iitc.tamu.edu

Big Cats, Big Teeth: National Geographic Education (website) - Students compare the shape and size of human, lion and gazelle teeth and jaws, and predict what each animal eats.

Big Cats, Big Teeth
National Geographic Education, education.nationalgeographic.com

Assessment Ideas

Animal Body Parts: Purpose Games (website) - Hit the “Start” button on the top right side of the page and challenge students to identify, as quickly as possible, the animal parts listed next to the timer. Do this as a whole class or as a group activity.

Animal Body Parts
Purpose Games, www.purposegames.com

Literature Connections

A Ladybug’s Life. Himmelman, John (ISBN-13: 978-0516263533)

Ladybugs. Ashley, Susan (ISBN-13: 978-0836840629)

Birds, Nests & Eggs. Boring, Mel (ISBN-13: 978-1559716246)

About Birds: A Guide for Children. Sill, Cathryn (ISBN-13: 978-1561451470)

Mealworms. Schaffer, Donna (ISBN-13: 978-0736832960)

Fish. Bodden, Valerie (ISBN-13: 978-1583417225)

Related Science TEKS

(K.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

(K.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move.

Related Math TEKS

K.8A   Describe and identify an object by its attributes using informal language (including shape, size, type, color, texture, or use).

K.8B   Compare two objects based on their attributes.

K.9A   Describe and compare the attributes of real-life objects such as balls, boxes, cans, and cones or models of three dimensional geometric figures.

K.15A Justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Darkling Beetle/Mealworm Information: The University of Arizona (website) - Observe the physical characteristics and behaviors of mealworms (larva of the darkling beetle), including the foods they eat, their habitat, predators and other interesting behaviors.

Darkling Beetle/Mealworm Information
The University of Arizona, Center for Insect Science Education, insected.arizona.edu

Animals: National Geographic Kids (website) - Learn fascinating facts about the characteristics and behaviors of animals. Website includes pictures, videos, maps, and printable pictures with facts for your classroom.

Animals
National Geographic Kids, kids.nationalgeographic.com

Build Your Wild Self: Wildlife Conservation Society (website) - Look at different animal parts in the context of characteristics, traits and adaptations. Students can create a cartoon version of themselves while adding different animal parts. Students can also select a background habitat to fit their creation.

Build Your Wild Self
Wildlife Conservation Society, www.buildyourwildself.com

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