Animal Structures and Functions for First Grade

Science, Teachers

In this unit, students become animal detectives, focusing on the amazing external structures of animals and discovering how they help them to survive in their environment. Building on your knowledge of basic needs, you'll learn to identify these structures and compare how they help animals live, move, and meet those basic needs.

You'll uncover the fascinating idea that an animal's structure (its parts and their properties) has a complementary relationship with its function (how it works). For example, you'll see how gills help fish breathe underwater, or how wings allow birds to fly. You'll discover that these external structures are crucial for survival, not just for looks.

Get ready to ask questions as we research the incredible ways animals are built to thrive! This unit is all about understanding the essential connection between what an animal has and what it can do.

Learning the Facts about Animal Structures for First Grade

Okay, “Guided Research” sounds like a super formal term… but what it really means is that these are the activities that we do together as a class and there is typically a right or wrong answer.

This is where I introduce new vocabulary using my teaching posters and I am “guiding” students through books or videos to find new information.

These activities are completed at the beginning of the unit when students are just starting to build their knowledge base, so these activities might seem easy, but remember, they are BUILDING their knowledge on the subject.

I love using fill in the blank activities like the “Words to Know” activity that directly correlates with an easy to use Vocabulary Teaching Poster.

As a first grade teachers, I found my self scrambling (struggling if I'm being honest) to find resources that explained the topics that my worksheet activities addressed, so…

I created Teaching Posters with definitions and GREAT visuals that go along with each and every activity! This unit is truly an all-in-one unit, including answer keys which make it super easy to leave for a subsitute!

Addressing Misconceptions about Animal Structures and Functions

Here are some student misconceptions about properties of objects:

Students may not understand that various categories of living things, such as people, birds, fish, insects, and worms, are all considered animals. Instead, they might think these are separate from the broader animal kingdom, which includes amphibians, birds, fish, insects, mammals, and reptiles.
Students might believe that if two animals possess similar external structures, they can perform the same functions. For example, they may not realize that some animals with wings, like penguins, are unable to fly.
Students may think that external structures are purely decorative and do not serve a functional purpose for an animal’s survival. This unit aims to help them understand that animals’ external structures play a crucial role in their survival, movement, and meeting basic needs.
Students may assume that all animals use their external structures in the same manner. For instance, they might not recognize that different animals use claws for various purposes, such as hunting or digging.
Students may think that all animals within the same species have identical external structures. They might not be aware that there can be variations in these structures even within the same species.

Misconceptions can be a valuable asset in the learning process. By identifying and addressing these pre-existing ideas, teachers can create a more engaging and effective learning environment.

Through strategies like pre-assessments, discussions, and real-world examples, teachers can challenge misconceptions and foster critical thinking.

Encouraging students to share their thoughts and debate alternative viewpoints creates a safe space for learning and growth.

By providing opportunities for reflection and revision, students can solidify their understanding and develop a deeper appreciation for the complexities of animal structures and functions for first grade.

Interactive Animal Structures Journals and Cut and Paste Activities

Next up comes cut and paste activities. These are PERFECT for when students are ready to become a little more independent.

(and for those who are a little less independent, this is a good practice for following directions – my best tip is to highlight the cuts with them first so that they cut away all the trash and throw the trash away before cutting the individual pieces apart)

You can still complete these together as a class, OR you can have students complete the activities independent FOR… wait for….

EXTRA INTERVENTION time for math and reading!!

What??

YES! I use my last 30 minutes of the day (for social studies or science) to sneak in a little more intervention time.

I get my students going on an independent activity such as a cut and paste, then I pull back a group of 3-4 students for extra reading or math intervention rather than having them complete the social studies activity… because what's really more important?

You can read more here:

Independent Writing about Animal Structures and Functions

I always love to wrap up my first grade Animal Structures and Functions unit with a creative writing activity which I encourage students to complete as independent writing.

I feel like this is the optimal way for students to show me what they have learned and also improve on their writing skills!

For students who are pretty independent, I let them work on their own. For students who are struggling a little bit, I provide them with sentence stems to help generate their own responses.

I always like to encourage students to use real life examples in their writing which is SO easy because properties of objects examples are all around us!

Here are some specific ways to incorporate writing into science in second grade:

Science Journals: Have students keep a science journal to record observations, predictions, questions, and reflections on experiments and activities.
Descriptive Writing: Ask students to write detailed descriptions of objects, organisms, or phenomena they observe in nature or during experiments.
Narrative Writing: Have students write stories about scientific concepts or their own science experiments.
Expository Writing: Guide students in writing informative reports or explanations of scientific topics.
Persuasive Writing: Encourage students to write persuasive arguments about science-related issues, such as the importance of recycling or the dangers of pollution.

By incorporating writing into science, you can create a more engaging and effective learning experience for your second-grade students.

Animal Structures Check In (Assessment Activities)

3 Reasons you should have your 1st grade students completing short answer assessments:

Short answer activities are a valuable tool for developing critical thinking and writing skills in second-grade students. Here's why they're important:

1. Comprehension and Analysis:

Short answer questions require students to process information, identify key details, and understand the overall meaning of a text.
This encourages them to think critically about what they've read and form their own interpretations.

2. Writing Skills Development:

Short answer activities provide opportunities for students to practice writing concise and coherent responses.
They learn to organize their thoughts, use appropriate language, and express their ideas clearly.
This lays the foundation for more complex writing tasks in the future.

3. Critical Thinking:

Short answer questions often ask students to explain, compare, or evaluate information.
This encourages them to think beyond simple recall and develop higher-order thinking skills.

First Grade Properties of Objects Activities

Spark your students' interest in the living world with this engaging resource focusing on animal structures and functions! This unit is designed to help students deeply understand how animals are built for survival by learning about animals’ basic needs, how they live and how they move.

Here’s what you’ll get:

· Teaching Posters

· Printable Worksheets

· Informational and Creative Writing Pages

· Interactive Journals

· Answer Keys

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Kristen Sullins

I am a current Elementary Librarian and
Enrichment Teacher, mother of two, follower of Christ and Texas native. In my own classroom, I love to save time by finding unique ways to integrate writing, social studies and science into all parts of my day. I also love all things organization!