Lesson 7: Animal Kingdom

The living world can be widely divided into plants and animals. In the previous lessons, we learned about plants. In this lesson, we will learn about animals.

Broadly, animals can be divided into those with backbone (vertebrates) and those without a backbone (invertebrates).

Activity: take your hand to your back (mid-line) and trace your backbone. Feel how your backbone supports your body.

Many large animals that we see daily are all vertebrates. Some examples are:
1. Fishes
2. Frogs and Toads
3. Snakes, Alligators, and turtles.
4. Birds - both flying and flightless. (Name 10 birds - some that can fly, and some that cannot).
5. Animals - Dogs, Cow, Sheep. (Name another 10 animals).

On the other hand, invertebrates are usually smaller. For example:
1. Sea Sponges
2. Sea Anemone
3. Flat worms and Round worms.
4. Leeches / Earthworm.
5. Insects and other critters.
    Cockroach
    Ants
    Butterfly**
    (Name 10 other insects)
    Crabs
    Lobsters
6. Snails, Oysters and Mussels, Octopus, Squids.
7. Starfishes, Sea stars and Sea Urchins.

Not listed in here are a special group of fishes which have bones only for their teeth. These are called "cartilaginous fish". Sharks belong to this group.

Activity:

Collect pictures of animals belonging to each group, and learn their names.

Notice the differences in shape and size of various animals.

Learn that animals can live on the earth, on trees, in water and sometimes in all places together.

Name a few animals that can live in water and on land. What are they called? (Parents - help the child / children for this question).