Dollar Store Animals to Teach Classification

Inexpensive toy animals and a color poster are all that one needs to learn how animal characteristics are used in a system of classification. This article highlights a way to teach animal c... See More

Inexpensive toy animals and a color poster are all that one needs to learn how animal characteristics are used in a system of classification. This article highlights a way to teach animal classification to third through fifth graders, but the author provides modifications for teachers wanting to introduce this concept to students in kindergarten through second grade. As a result of this activity students gain practice in several related process skills including: sorting, classifying, and distinguishing between similarities and differences. The article provides an interesting way to introduce students to 9 taxa (groupings) of the animal kingdom.

Intro

This lesson plan is very detailed and provides a very easy introduction to classifying animals with easy materials like cheap toy animals and poster board. There are many steps that involve ... See More

This lesson plan is very detailed and provides a very easy introduction to classifying animals with easy materials like cheap toy animals and poster board. There are many steps that involve a lot of bloom's taxonomy and aligns well with standards like analyzing, sorting, and distinguishing. This also includes a vocabulary word wall and sorting worksheets. The assessment portion is a little weak and I think would not show the skills they learned very proficiently.