Ms. Hammer 2nd/3rd Grade Science What is a Mammal? Ms. Hammer 2nd/3rd Grade Science

Science Standards Strand: Processes of Life Standard: The student describes patterns of structure and function in living things. SC.F.1.2.2 Knows how all animals depend on plants. SC.F.1.2.3 Knows that living things are different but share similar structures. SC.F.1.2.4 Knows that similar cells form different kinds of structures. SC.F.2.2.1 Knows that many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents of the organism, but that other characteristics are learned from an individual's interactions with the environment.

Objectives Students will be able to clarify at least three characteristics that designate a mammal. Students will be able to distinguish certain traits from animals in other classes, such as fish, reptiles, and amphibians.

Mammal Characteristics All mammals are warm blooded. Most young are born alive. They have hair or fur on their bodies. Every mammal is a vertebrate. All mammals have lungs to breathe air. Mammals feed milk to their babies.

Three Varieties of Mammals Mammals constitute one class of the animal kingdom and come in three varieties. MARSUPIALS Marsupials are mammals whose young are born very immature. Most female marsupials have pouches. MONOTREMES Monotremes are primitive, egg-laying mammals. Spiny anteaters and the duck-billed platypus are monotremes. PLACENTALS Placental mammals are advanced mammals whose unborn young are nourished through a placenta.

Are Humans Mammals? Our temperature stays about the same. We are born alive. We grow hair on our bodies. We have a backbone. We breathe air. Our mothers feed us milk when we are babies. Yes, we are! Humans are mammals.

Activity What is the largest mammal? The blue whale grows up to 30 m in length and weighs up to 190 tons. The African elephant is the largest mammal living on dry land. It weighs up to 5.7 tons. The elk weighs up to 600 kg. What is the smallest mammal? The shrews are the smallest mammal in the world. They weigh about 1.5 g.

Questions/Answers What do mammals have in common? They all have hair, mammary glands, are warm-blooded and use their lungs to breathe air. Every mammal is a vertebrate. That means mammals have a skeleton with a backbone. How do mammals give birth? All mammals give birth thanks to the sudden release of a flow of hormones. It is necessary to contract the uterus for the birth of the babies and for the delivery of the placentas. Mammals are bisexual, fertilization in internal. The embryo develops in the mother's body. Newborns are fed on milk from mammary glands. How do they stay warm? Their hair keeps them warm.

Questions/Answers Where do mammals live? How do mammals move? Most of mammals live on dry land. They live throughout the world: some burrow in desert sand, some swing through tropical trees, some swim in arctic waters, some live in forests, some in mountains. How do mammals move? The way of moving depends on their habitats. The animals that live on the plains are adapted for fast running, forest animals can climb trees. The toes of cetaceans have fused to form flat, paddlelike flippers which enable them to swim. Bats are the only mammals that are able to fly.

Questions/Answers What do mammals eat? Mammals are divided into three eating groups: Herbivores, herbivores feed on grasses, roots, leaves, shoots, and fruits. Omnivores, omnivores feed on both plants and animals. Mammals use teeth, which are in the cavity of the mouth, to tear food. Carnivores, carnivorous mammals either hunt live prey or feed on dead animals.

There are about 5,000 species of living mammals. In Conclusion There are about 5,000 species of living mammals.