Activity: Finding Invertebrates – Science – Years F to 2

Quick summary: Students investigate invertebrates. They begin by reviewing their prior knowledge of what invertebrates are before categorising a range of animals as either vertebrates or invertebrates. Students then head into the schoolyard to observe invertebrates, thinking about their features and behaviours, before spending time drawing these invertebrates.

This lesson has been developed with generous support from the Ian Potter Foundation, John T Reid Charitable Trusts and The Myer Foundation.

Learning intentions:

• Students understand what invertebrates are
• Students recognise some of the differences between invertebrates and vertebrates
• Students understand why invertebrates are important.

21st century skills: 

              

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions: 

Foundation Science

• Science involves observing, asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events (ACSHE013)
• Participate in guided investigations and make observations using the senses (ACSIS011)
• Engage in discussions about observations and represent ideas (ACSIS233)

Year 1 Science

• Living things have a variety of external features (ACSSU017)
• Use a range of methods to sort information, including drawings and provided tables and through discussion, compare observations with predictions (ACSIS027)
• Compare observations with those of others (ACSIS213)
• Represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways (ACSIS029)

Year 2 Science

• Participate in guided investigations to explore and answer questions (ACSIS038)
• Use informal measurements to collect and record observations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS039)
• Use a range of methods to sort information, including drawings and provided tables and through discussion, compare observations with predictions (ACSIS040)
• Compare observations with those of others (ACSIS041)
• Represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways (ACSIS042)

Syllabus outcomes: STe-8NE, STe-4WS, ST1-10LW, ST1-11LW, ST1-4WS.

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, OI.9.

Relevant parts of Foundation Science achievement standards: Students suggest how the environment affects them and other living things. They share and reflect on observations, and ask and respond to questions about familiar objects and events.

Relevant parts of Year 1 Science achievement standards: Students describe how different places meet the needs of living things. They participate in guided investigations of everyday phenomena and follow instructions to record and sort their observations and share them with others.

Relevant parts of Year 2 Science achievement standards: Students describe how different places meet the needs of living things. They participate in guided investigations of everyday phenomena and follow instructions to record and sort their observations and share them with others. They record and represent observations and communicate ideas in a variety of ways.

Topics: Biodiversity, Sustainability.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: Investigating Invertebrates – Lower Primary.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – lead students in class discussions, oversee invertebrate habitat construction.

Resources required:

• Vertebrate Or Invertebrate? Images
• Device capable of presenting a website to the class
• Drawing materials for each student
• Skeleton Images

Keywords: invertebrates, vertebrates, features, habitats, schoolyard, drawing.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.