Unit Review: Animals and Plants

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Your child is learning about physical characteristics. He or she is learning about the characteristics of different organisms and how these characteristics help the organism.

Here are some fun activities to help your child learn more about physical characteristics:

• Observe a family pet or animals around your neighborhood. Ask your child to tell you about the characteristics of the animal and what function the characteristic might serve.
• Plant a tree, flower, or other plant with your child. Ask your child to describe the plant’s characteristics. Ask your child why the plant has roots, stem, and leaves. Ask him or her to tell you how this plant looks similar to and different from other plants.

As you listen, ask your child what he or she understands about physical characteristics:

• What do different organisms look like?

Answer: Different organisms can look similar and different. Some organisms, like animals, can have legs, furs, scales, wings, or feathers, among other things. Plants can have leaves, roots, and stems. They can be big or small.

• Why do different organisms have different physical characteristics?

Answer: Different organisms have different physical characteristics because they have different ways of moving, eating, and protecting themselves.

• What is the function of specific physical characteristics of an organism (scales, feathers, plant roots, etc.)?

Answer: The different characteristics are related to the organism’s needs. For example, duck have webbed feet because they need them to swim. Plants have roots to hold the plant in the ground.

• What characteristics are similar and different among different organisms?

Answer: There may be similarities and differences among different organisms. For example, many animals are vertebrates. Many have hair or fur. Many plants have leaves. There are also many differences. Some animals may have scales while others do not. Some plants may have needles, like a cactus, while others do not.

Encourage your child to talk more about physical characteristics. You can start a conversation with your child by asking questions, such as:

• What does an elephant/grasshopper/fish, etc. look like?
• Why do you think that a turtle has a shell?
• What characteristics do animals have that help them protect themselves?

Enjoy exploring physical characteristics with your child!

HOW DO LIVING THINGS CHANGE?

Your child is learning about how living things change. He or she is learning about the life cycles of plants and animals. He or she is also learning about how animals and their offspring are similar and different.

Here are some fun activities to help your child learn more about how living things change.

• Adopt-a-Flower: If you have a yard at home or have access to a yard, choose a flower (examples: dandelions, tulips, lilies, daffodils) with your child. Rope it off using bamboo sticks and ribbon. Track the stages that the dandelion goes through over a period of several weeks. Take photographs or draw pictures of the flower and make a scrapbook of its stages. If you do not have a yard, you may be able to observe a flower at a nearby park, without roping it off.
• Growing Up: Locate baby photos of your child, or photos of your parents, if available. Spend some time talking about how your child has grown and changed through the years. Ask your child to share observations about how you have changed.
• Family Tree: Prepare a family tree with your child and paste in pictures of family members. Talk about the differences and similarities in traits among family members with your child.

As you do the activities, ask your child what he or she understands about how living things change.

• What are the stages of an animal's life cycle?

Answer: Animals are born (or hatch), they grow bigger, they become parents, then they die.

• What are the stages of a plant’s life cycle?

Answer: Plants start as seeds. They need water, air and light to sprout. They grow bigger and flower. Their flowers become fruits and the fruits contain seeds.

• What are inherited traits?

Answer: Inherited traits are characteristics that we get from our parents.

• Where do inherited traits come from?

Answer: Inherited traits come from our parents.

• How are life cycles similar or different for different animals?

Answer: All animals live, grow, and die. Some animals come from eggs, some are born.

• How do life cycles of plants and animals differ?

Answer: Plants do not hatch and are not born; they come from seeds. Animals become parents, while plants bear fruit that have seeds.

• How are offspring similar to and different from their parents?

Responses will vary. Offspring can be similar to parents in body shape and size. Certain traits, such as eye color, hair color, fur color, etc. may be similar. Some of these traits may also be different.

Encourage your child to talk more about how living things change. You can start a conversation with your child by asking questions, such as:

• What traits do you think you inherited from your parents?
• What do you think your own babies might look like?
• What happens to a caterpillar when it becomes an adult?
• How are your friends similar to and different from their parents and siblings?

Enjoy exploring how living things change with your child!

Links to Videos and Presentations

United States Flag Video United States Flag

George Washington Video George Washington

Abraham Lincoln Video Abraham Lincoln

Harriet Tubman Video Harriet Tubman

George Washington Carver Video George Washington Carver