TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMALS AS LIVING THINGS
A: TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS
- Animal charts.
- Pictures showing animals feeding.
- Pictures showing animal movement.
- Pictures of young and adult animals.
- Pupils’ notebooks and pencils.
B: REFERENCE MATERIALS
- Scheme of work.
- Recommended Basic Science textbook for Primary 3.
- Online educational resources.
C: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE
The pupils have learnt about the features, habitats and uses of animals.
D: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- State characteristics of animals as living things.
- Explain how animals feed and breathe.
- State that animals move and grow.
- Explain that animals reproduce.
- Compare basic characteristics of plants and animals.
E: CONTENT
Animals Are Living Things
Animals are living things because they carry out important life processes.
Animals Feed
Animals need food for energy and growth. Examples: 🐐 Goat eats grass. 🐓 Chicken eats grains and other foods. 🐈 Cat eats meat and other suitable foods.
Animals Breathe
Animals need oxygen from the air or water. Humans and many land animals breathe air. Fish obtain oxygen from water through their gills.
Animals Move
Animals can move from one place to another. Examples:
- Birds fly.
- Fish swim.
- Snakes crawl.
- Humans walk and run.
Animals Grow
Animals increase in size as they develop. For example: 🐣 Chick ➡️ 🐔 Chicken
Animals Reproduce
Animals produce young ones. Examples:
- A goat gives birth to a kid.
- A chicken lays eggs that may hatch into chicks.
- A dog gives birth to puppies.
Animals Respond
Animals respond to changes around them. For example:
- A person moves away from something hot.
- A dog may run when frightened.
Animals Excrete
Animals remove waste products from their bodies.
Animals Die
Like all living things, animals eventually die.
Comparing Plants and Animals
Both plants and animals:
- Grow.
- Respire.
- Reproduce.
- Need water.
- Respond to their surroundings.
Animals usually move from place to place, while plants remain rooted in one place.
F: LESSON PRESENTATION
F1: Teachers’ Activities
- Explains why animals are living things.
- Discusses feeding in animals.
- Explains breathing.
- Shows examples of animal movement.
- Discusses growth and reproduction.
- Explains response and excretion.
- Compares plants and animals.
F2: Pupils’ Activities
- Mention characteristics of animals.
- Give examples of animal foods.
- Identify different types of movement.
- Match young animals with adults.
- Explain reproduction in simple terms.
- Compare plants and animals.
G: CONCLUSION
The teacher explains that animals are living things because they feed, breathe, move, grow, reproduce, respond and remove waste. Pupils are encouraged to observe these characteristics in animals around them.
H: EVALUATION GUIDE
Pupils should be able to answer the following questions:
- Mention five characteristics of animals.
- Why do animals eat food?
- What does a fish use for breathing?
- Mention two ways animals move.
- What is a young chicken called?
- Mention two animals that give birth to young ones.
- State two similarities between plants and animals.
- State one difference between plants and animals.