Animal Classification for Kids

Kids love learning about the characteristics of arthropods, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Using a fun game show format, students learn that arthropods have an exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and jointed legs. They are cold-blooded. Fish are vertebrates (have a spine), gills for breathing underwater, and most are covered in scales and have fins. Amphibians begin life with gills and live in the water. Later they develop lungs and live on land. They have moist, hairless skin. Reptiles are vertebrates, lay eggs on land, have scales, and are cold-blooded. Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates. They breathe air and are bipedal (walk on two legs). They also lay hard-shelled eggs. All have feathers, wings, and beaks. Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates, they breathe air and have hair or fur. Most are born live, not hatched from an egg. The mothers produce milk after birth to feed their offspring. All mammals have three middle-ear bones and a four-chambered heart.