Mammals as vertebrates
Work safely in groups. Identify the animals in pictures 1 to 10.
1 –
2 –
3 –
4 –
5 –
6 –
7 –
8 –
9 –
10 –
- What group of vertebrates do they belong to?
- What characteristics do these animals have?
- Which animals are wild? Which animals are domestic? In what ways should we care for the animals we keep at home?
Protecting our wild animals: Who are poachers? What happens when they are caught? Find out and share this information with others.
Characteristics of Mammals
Activity 1.38: Identifying the characteristics of mammals
Work safely in pairs. Search the Internet for characteristics of mammals.
Use statements from this jigsaw to write sentences about mammals.
- Which mammal flies? Which mammals live in water?
- Which mammals lay eggs? Are human beings mammals?
- What name is given to mammals that eat vegetable material?
- What name is given to mammals that eat animal flesh?
- What name is given to mammals that eat foods from both plant and animal sources?
Observe safety when using the Internet. Do not visit dangerous websites. Do not give out personal information through mobile devices or through the Internet.
Learn more. Grow. Share the knowledge with your family and community members
Mammals in our localities
We are familiar with mammals because they are commonly found in our localities. We rear them as livestock. Examples of mammals are goats, camels and cattle. Others are pets such as cats and dogs.
See the link: You have learnt it in Agriculture: Which animals are kept as livestock in your local area? In what ways should we care for the animals we keep in our homes?
Characteristics of mammals
Mammals give birth to their young ones. Female mammals have mammary glands that produce milk. Young mammals feed on the mother’s milk. Some have hairy bodies. Their bodies are covered with fur.
Mammals are said to be warm-blooded because their body temperature remains the same whether the weather is cold, warm or hot. It does not change with that of its surroundings.
Mammals feed on either animal flesh or vegetable material. Some feed on both. Those that feed on animal flesh are carnivores. Examples of carnivorous mammals are lions, leopards and tigers.
Mammals that feed on green leaves and other vegetable material are called herbivores. Examples of herbivorous mammals are goats, sheep and zebras.
Mammals that feed on both animal flesh and vegetable material are called omnivores. Examples of omnivorous mammals are human beings. Name other omnivorous mammals.
Did you know?
Most mammals give birth to young ones. Two mammals that lay eggs are the duck-billed platypus and the spiny ant eater. Search for pictures of these two mammals on the Internet, then do Activity 1.40.
Most mammals live on dry land. Mammals that live in water are whales, seals and dolphins. Most mammals walk on their limbs (legs). A mammal that flies is a bat. Human beings are mammals.
Activity 1.39: Creating a poster or brochure for the community
Work safely in pairs. Use Art and Craft skills to create posters on caring for domestic animals. Take pictures with a digital device. Ask an adult to print them out for you. Obtain others from old magazines and newspapers.
1 –
2 –
Activity 1.41: Creating a photo album of various mammals
Using Art and Craft Skills: Creating a photo album of mammals.
- Download pictures of mammals from the Internet.
- Ask your teacher, parent, guardian or caregiver to print them out for you.
- Use locally available materials or re-usable waste materials to create an album.
- What materials will you use?
- Display your pictures. Show them to other learners, friends, family and teachers.
Which materials have you used?
Safety Kit: When you use cutting materials, be careful. Avoid cuts and pricks. If someone gets injured, do not touch his or her blood with your bare hands. Request your teacher to give the patient first aid.
Characteristics of Birds
Activity 1.42: Identifying the characteristics of birds
Work safely in pairs. Use the Internet to find out the characteristics of birds. Write down some examples of birds found in your locality.
Work safely in groups. Identify the animals labelled 1 to 4.
1 –
2 –
3 –
4 –
See the link: You have learnt it in Agriculture: Which birds do we rear in our localities?
Health Safety: Take this message to people in your family and community: Dead animals should not be slaughtered for meat. The carcass should be burnt or buried to prevent the spread of diseases. A veterinary doctor should be informed. Keep your communities safe and healthy.
Activity 1.44: Describing the characteristics of birds
Activity 1.45: Creating a photo album of various birds
Use Art and Craft skills: Create a photo album of birds.
Download pictures of birds from the Internet. Ask your teacher, parent or guardian to print them for you. What locally available materials will you use to create the photo album? You can also collect pictures from old magazines and newspapers. Display your pictures. Show them to other learners, friends, family and teachers.
Learn more. Grow. Share the knowledge with your family and community members
Characteristics of birds as vertebrates
Birds are vertebrates. They have a backbone. Their bodies are covered with feathers. They have beaks instead of teeth.
They lay eggs. To have young ones, birds incubate their eggs. They sit on and keep the eggs warm until they hatch. The eggs hatch into young birds.
They have wings. Most birds fly. An ostrich is a bird that does not fly. Birds have claws and scales on their feet. Birds are warm-blooded. Their body temperature does not change with that of the surroundings.
Examples of birds are ducks, chicken, penguins and weaver birds. Give other examples.
Activity 1.46: Observing mammals and birds in our locality
With the guidance of your teacher, take a walk around the school compound and in the neighbourhood. Observe various mammals and birds in your locality.
Name the mammals and the birds you see. Give the names in both the local language and in English. Observe safety.
Safety kit: In what ways do you care for domestic animals? When you interact with the animals, in what ways will you ensure that yourself and others are safe? Share your safety tips with others. Hygiene safety tip: Afterwards, wash your hands with soap and water. Rub the hands for 20 seconds or more.
Check your understanding
