Fur, Feathers and Scales

Age Kindergarten and up • 30 minutes
Introduce students to the differences between mammals, reptiles, birds, and/or invertebrates.

Standards:

K.ESS3.A.1 Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans) and the places they live.

3.LS1.A.1 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular ecosystem some organisms — based on structural adaptations or behaviors — can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. [Clarification Statement: Examples of evidence could include needs and characteristics of the organisms and habitats involved. The organisms and their habitat make up a system in which the parts depend on each other.]

4.LS1.A.1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and plant reproduction. [Clarification Statement: Examples of structures could include thorns, stems, roots, colored petals, heart, stomach, lung, brain, and skin.]

3.LS3.B.1 Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving and finding mates. [Clarification Statement: Examples of cause and effect relationships could be plants that have larger thorns than other plants may be less likely to be eaten by predators; and, animals that have better camouflage coloration than other animals may be more likely to survive and therefore more likely to leave offspring.]

3.LS3.C.1 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular ecosystem some organisms — based on structural adaptations or behaviors — can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot. [Clarification Statement: Examples of evidence could include needs and characteristics of the organisms and habitats involved. The organisms and their habitat make up a system in which the parts depend on each other.]