Peek into our Week - Cherry Blossoms - week of 11/6/23

Focus Lesson: Animal Classification – Mammals & Birds

We have continued our study of the Animal Kingdom over the past two weeks. Our Blossoms are currently studying groups of Vertebrates. We started with Mammals and Birds!

What makes a mammal a mammal? We learned that mammals are warm blooded, covered in hair or fur, breathe air with their lungs, give birth to live babies, take care of their babies, and babies drink their mother’s milk.

What makes a bird a bird? We learned that birds are warm blooded, covered in feathers, breathe air with their lungs, hatch from hard shelled eggs, take care of their babies, and don’t have teeth – they have beaks!

With each of these classification studies, the children have been introduced to different species of mammals and birds, as well as the parts of one specific animal. For mammals we learned about the parts of a horse, and for birds we were introduced to the parts of a bird in general but encouraged to look through our various bird books to see how birds look different.

These two children are working together to determine if an animal is a mammal or not a mammal. Just one of the ways we review the characteristics of animals!

This child is working with our Mammal 3 Part Cards under the watchful eye of Douglas, the goat (who is a mammal by the way).

This child is working with our Bird 3 Part Cards. All of these birds within this work can be see around your backyard at home or around the school!

Our Favorite Visitor – Charlotte

Mr. John surprised us with a visit from Charlotte, the tarantula and one of his hissing cockroaches. As a group, we reviewed what we know about arachnids and insects while observing these animals more up close. Thank you Mr. John!