Science Lesson Plan 2: Vertebrates

Curriculum Outcome: DL6.3 Analyze the characteristics and behaviours of vertebrates

(i.e., mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish) and invertebrates.
Objective: Students will understand the different classifications of vertebrates and will
be able to provide examples of each based on their characteristics and behaviours.
Warm-Up Activity: As a class we will briefly play the What am I? game. This game
is played by students all writing down an animal on a piece of paper. Once everyone has
written an animal down, they will hand them in to me and I will read each one aloud and
ask What am I, Vertebrate or Invertebrate?.
Materials Needed:
Computer
Data Projector or Smart board for power point presentation
Procedure: More detailed procedure is in the teacher notes at the bottom of each slide!
Day 1:
As a class we will explore the Power Point presentation on Vertebrates. The first slide
will be a refresher as to what exactly Vertebrates are. The next few slides will go into
detail about what exactly a backbone is and what it does for vertebrates. Once the
students have an understanding of what vertebrates are, they will brainstorm for 20
minutes different vertebrates. After the 20 minutes are up we will go through all the
animals students have named, and decide on a way that we can shorten our listen by
grouping the animals into classes. ( All answers that are covered with a box can be
removed by clicking the mouse once when in slide show view)
Day 2:
To start out day two we will briefly go over why it is important to classify the groups of
vertebrates. The next few slides will introduce the classifications of Vertebrates
(Mammals, Fish, Birds etc.) Once we have explored these slides, the next few will deal
with the characteristics and behaviours that go with each classification. To end the lesson
there will be a closing question asking Why do we divide vertebrates into different
classifications, if they are all part of the same vertebrate family? Depending on the
abilities of the students in the classroom, this lesson could take more than one class
period, and could be split up into two lessons with more time being spent on classifying
different Vertebrates.
Engage: Students will play the What am I? Vertebrate or Invertebrate game
Explain: Students will be able learn from the prepared Power Point, but will also be able
to learn interactively through inquiry
Explore: Brainstorming as many vertebrates as the students can think of.

Classification Tree
Can you classify the various vertebrates into select groups?

Vertebrates