Animals With or Without Bones

Animals With or Without Bones
In the classroom, children will investigate vertebrates and invertebrates. Using our bone collection, they will decide what animal the skeleton is from. They will then discover where they are found in the body and their function. Invertebrates will be investigated, looking at exoskeletons and discussing their function (e.g., protection). 
Children will be offered the opportunity to handle our animals and look at how they move, e.g., corn snake, giant African snail, salamander and hissing cockroach, developing a care of and respect for living things.

Learning objectives 

• To identify that vertebrates have skeletons and muscles for support, protection, and movement.
• To identify that invertebrates have exoskeletons for support, protection, and movement.
• To treat animals and the environment with care and sensitivity.

National science curriculum links 
Y3
Animals including humans

• Identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat. 
• Identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support, protection, and movement.

Y4
Animals including humans

• Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways. 
• Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment (available on request).