Animals – As Living Things (Characteristics) Basic 3 Basic Science Lesson Note

Characteristics of Animals

They Move by Themselves:

• Cats can walk, run, and jump

• Fish swim in different directions

• Birds fly high in the sky

• Worms crawl through soil

Frogs hop from place to place

They Grow and Change:

• Kittens grow into adult cats
• Caterpillars change into butterflies
• Babies grow bigger each day
• Young animals learn new skills as they grow

They Need Food:

• Dogs eat meat and dog food
• Rabbits eat carrots and grass
• Birds eat seeds and worms
• Cows eat grass all day
• Animals become weak without food

They Breathe:

• Humans breathe air through nose and mouth
• Fish get oxygen from water using gills
• Dogs pant when they are hot
• All animals need oxygen to stay alive

They Have Babies:

• Chickens lay eggs that become chicks
• Dogs give birth to puppies
• Cows have baby calves
• Butterflies lay eggs that become caterpillars

They React to Things Around Them:

• Animals run when they hear loud noises
• Cats hide when they see big dogs
• Birds sing when the sun comes up
• Animals sleep when it gets dark

They Eventually Die:

• All animals have a lifespan
• Some live longer than others
• Death is part of the life cycle

Exercise 1:

1. How do fish get oxygen? _______
2. What do baby cows grow into? _______
3. Why do animals run from loud noises? _______