Activity: Kinds-of-Animals Bulletin Board

Set up the bulletin board by dividing it into 5 blocks, labeling one for each group of animals:

• Mammals (bones, hair/fur, live birth)
• Birds (bones, feathers, lays eggs)
• Reptiles (bones, scales, lays eggs)
• Boneless Animals (no bones, no fur/feathers, lays eggs)
• ?? Where do these belong??

If you like, have students color these full-page animal cards . Go to the next slide for how to use the bulletin board as a class activity.

Activity: Kinds-of-Animals Bulletin Board

Use the bulletin board to review and expand students' knowledge of animal groups.

1) Put animal cards into the appropriate blocks. (You can use cards from the activity or full-page animal cards .

2) Challenge students to suggest other animals, then write (or draw) them on 3 x 5 cards. Discuss where each animal belongs, then put the card in that group.

3) If students can't agree, put that animal in the “??” block. Ask students how they could figure out where it belongs. (Scientists sometimes disagree on how to classify animals, too.)

Bulletin Board Activity Extension: More Challenge Cards

Here's a great addition to your bulletin board.

• Print out more challenge cards for each student. (Each printout includes two sets of three cards.)
• Use these step-by-step instructions to figure out where each of these animals belongs. Be warned: these animals are really challenging. Expect a lot of discussion!
• Put each card in the appropriate group on your bulletin board.