Created by Letty Vaca, Tanisha Hanley & Genna Roberts At CUNY Brooklyn College, 2008

 The  The difference between living things and non-living things, and their characteristics  How  How animals are classified  Animals  Animals have different structures that serve different functions must adapt to their environment so they can survive  Different  Different animal life cycles  The  The life span of different animals

 Living is anything that is or has ever been alive.  Non-living is anything that is not alive nor has ever been alive.  Living things need air, food and water; grow, reproduce and responds to its environment.

If you said you would classify an animal, plant and log as living and water as non-living you are CORRECT! Because an animal and plant is a living thing. It needs air, food and water; grow, reproduce and responds to its environment; and a log is a dead tree and was once a living thing. Water is non-living because it is not alive nor was it ever alive. It does not reproduce, need food or grow.

For more information, pictures and videos about living things go to this website: tanimalltl.html Go to the category videos to watch Animals on the Go and Animals Making a Living.

 Scientists  Scientists classify animals according to similar characteristics  The  The Animal Kingdom can be split into two main groups. They are: Vertebrates – animals that have a backbone. Invertebrates Invertebrates – animals that do NOT have a backbone.

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 Structures such as the eyes help in movement, defense and feeding.  The position of the eyes on the animal’s head can determine if the animal is a predator or a prey. Eyes set close together at the front of the head provide for stereoscopic vision. Predators such as polar bears have stereoscopic vision. Eyes positioned toward the sides of the head allow for a broader range of vision, useful for seeing if predators are approaching.

Stereoscopic vision is a three dimensional vision that assists animals to perceive depth of field. Without stereoscopic vision, it would be difficult for animals to catch their prey as it would be would difficult for a student to catch a ball.

Life Cycles:  The  The term “life cycle” refers to the sequence of developmental stages that an animal goes through from the time it is born till it dies.  Different  Different animals have a different life cycle.  All  All living things reproduce which helps a species to survive and thrive.  Animals  Animals that die before they complete their life cycle may have been exposed to predators or a disease, lacked food or shelter.  The  The simplest life cycle includes: the unborn stage, young stage and adult stage.

 Where do polar bears live? Go to: habitat.html habitat.html habitat.html  What animals cohabitate with polar bears? Go to:  What characterizes a living organism? What are a living organism’s basic needs? Go to: 00/7th/classify/living/2.htm 00/7th/classify/living/2.htm 00/7th/classify/living/2.htm

 What is causing mass extinction of animals? Go to:  Find a website, on your own, that discusses the issue of extinction.  List at least 5 examples of extinct animals and when they were declared extinct using the following website:  Watch at least one “quick time video” at the website below. List 10 new things that you learned from the videos. Also, choose a “flash interactive” and use the interactive activities to test your new knowledge! ex/ice/ ex/ice/ ex/ice/

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