Teach your 1st or 2nd grade students the classification system of animals into groups: reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and mammals. Most young kids love all types of animals, even the slimy ones. Learning about the animal kingdom will be appealing and keep their interest. So let’s jump into discussing how to teach about animals specifically reptiles.
Animal Groups and Classification
Animal classification is just like sorting. Your students have lots of experience with sorting colors and shapes. While using photos, you can put all of the dog photos on one side and all of the birds on the other side. Your students should be able to identify the rule you used to group them. Fur in one group and feathers in the other. Or four paws vs. two feet. They may even come up with other rules. Your students are just like scientists who use their skills of observation in their jobs. Try this with your students as an introduction activity.
Find out What your Students Know
Kick off the animal classification lesson by assessing their prior knowledge about reptiles. List items students share using “is, can, has” headings on a chart.
Read about Animal Groups and Classification
There are so many books that you can read aloud to your class or add to the bookshelf in your classroom. Visit the school library or even the local public library to get a variety to share with students. Remember to provide multiple sources to gather and confirm information.
Printable books allow students to take ownership, color the images, and read the book over and over again. In the book below, students gain knowledge about different reptiles, their habitats, and unique characteristics. The book is interactive providing students with two choices to select from to finish the sentence. When they turn the page, they then read to confirm the correct answer choice.
Animal Groups Worksheets Support Learning
Worksheets can also help students learn the traits and characteristics of the animals in each group or classification.
This reptile worksheet appeals to kids because they must find their way through the maze. As they move to each box, they also learn a detail and see an image of a reptile which they can color as well.
Introduce and build vocabulary related to reptiles.
Word searches provide repeated opportunities to use new words. Plus, kids love the challenge of finding all of the words.
Once students have learned about the traits and characteristics, let them apply their knowledge to pick out animals which fit into this group.
“Color the reptiles” the directions say.
Can your students identify the correct animals to color?
Retelling Facts Learned
Students can retell a detail that they learned during the lessons.
This can be used as an exit ticket.
Students enjoy having the opportunity to draw. This worksheet provides them with space to draw two reptiles and write details about them which they have learned. This activity not only reinforces what they’ve learned but also allows them to express their artistic talents.
The interactive nature of the worksheet activities keeps students motivated and excited about learning. These are NOT boring traditional worksheets.
If you want the FREE worksheets seen in the photos above to use with your class, just click below.
Learn More with a Video
Add another resource to gain information about reptiles in the animal kingdom. Some students learn better from seeing things with their own eyes. So share a video. Remember to preview any video before sharing with your students.
Conclusion
- Teaching about reptiles can be easy and less stressful when you have great materials.
- Incorporate student-friendly worksheets like mazes, word searches, and coloring activities.
- Inspire young learners to build upon their interest of animals by learning how animals are grouped and classified.
After the reptile unit, your students might be eager for more. Check out the additional classifications within the animal kingdom: birds, fish, mammals, and amphibians.
As a busy teacher, I bet you’ll be pleased to have so many activities and options to select from in the reptile download. You’ll stress less since a variety of kid friendly activities are included which address science, literacy, and writing skills. Imagine having the entire science unit with this bundle which includes amphibians, birds, fish, and mammals.
Ready to introduce your students to the wonders of animals?
Access the resource here:
