AMPHIBIANS, FISH AND REPTILES
Learning Objectives
1)
Realize that animals that look or act alike are organized
into groups called families.
2)
Know the characteristics of the fish family. Fish can come
in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. Fish are
vertebrates and, like all vertebrates, they have eyes, teeth, a
mouth, and a stomach. Instead of using lungs, fish breathe
through gills. Fish spawn, eat, and live in the water; some
in freshwater and others in saltwater. Fish use their tails to
propel themselves and their fins to steer. Nearly all kinds
of fish have scales, which are used for protection. Fish can
either be herbivores or carnivores. Most fish have swim
bladders, which they use to travel through different depths
in the water. A very different class of fish, the shark, does
not have a swim bladder and has a skeleton made of
cartilage, instead of bone.
3)
4)
Know the characteristics of the amphibian family. All
amphibians (which include frogs, newts, toads, and
salamanders) are vertebrates. Amphibians live partly on
land and partly in water. Most amphibians are nocturnal,
and all have moist skin. Amphibians lay jelly like eggs in or
near water. When amphibians are young, they resemble
fish; they have no legs, they breathe through gills, and they
live in water. Newborn amphibians eat plants. When
amphibians are older, they grow legs, develop lungs, and
eat meat and plants.
Know the characteristics of the reptile family. Reptiles
breathe using lungs and are cold blooded. Most reptiles
have scaly skin, which they shed as they grow. Reptiles lay
their eggs, which are tough and hard, on land. When
reptiles are born, they look like a smaller version of their
parents. Reptiles can be found all over the world. In
addition, most reptiles have skin that is dry and scaly, and
all reptiles are vertebrates.
5)
Identify the characteristics of each of the four main groups
of reptiles.
6)
Turtles and tortoises have two shells made of bone that
surround their bodies. The top shell is called the carapace
and is covered in tough scales, and the bottom shell is
called the plastron. All turtles and tortoises have four legs
and a tail. Turtles and tortoises move very slowly on land.
Some turtles live on land and mainly eat plants. Others live
in the water and eat both plants and meat.
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7)
Alligators and crocodiles live in and around rivers and
swamps all over the world. The skin of alligators and
crocodiles is very tough. When alligators and crocodiles are
young, they eat mainly insects. Once they mature, they eat
meat. Like turtles, alligators and crocodiles have four legs
and a tail.
8)
Lizards typically have four legs and a tail, and most are
insectivores. Lizards have long sticky tongues, which they
use to catch the insects that they eat. In addition, a lizard’s
eyes are on the sides of its head, and they move
independently of each other, allowing the lizard to aim for
its prey.
9)
Snakes do not have legs, but they use the scales on their
underside to help them move. All snakes are carnivores
and kill their food by either paralyzing it with poison or by
suffocating it. Snakes have a lower jaw that is separate
from their skull, allowing them to swallow food that is
larger than their head. Snakes use their forked tongues to
taste the air, helping them to gain information about their
surroundings.
Suggested Activities
1)
Before viewing the video
a) If possible, have a goldfish, a lizard, a toad, or any live
fish, amphibian, or reptile in the classroom for the
students to observe closely. Discuss how this animal is
different from humans and how it is the same. Have the
students draw a picture of it.
2)
After viewing the video
a) Talk about what is special about fish, amphibians, and
reptiles (fish have scales, live in water, and have fins;
amphibians live in water when young and live on land
when grown, have smooth moist or dry bumpy skin, and
have legs; reptiles live on land and in water and have scaly
skin).
TEACHER’S GUIDE
c) Name an animal and have the students hold up the card
for that animal group. For example, if “Box Turtle” is
called, the children should hold up the card labeled reptile
with a picture of a snake on it. The video may need to be
reviewed if there is confusion among the students. Keep
reminding the students of the characteristics of each
group until they get the idea.
Vocabulary
Amphibian − double life; a species that lives
both in water and on land.
Gills − organs that fish and tadpoles use to
obtain oxygen from the water.
Carnivore − an animal that eats meat.
Cold-blooded − an animal that cannot make
its own body heat. Cold-blooded animals must
rely on their surroundings to regulate their body
temperature.
Herbivore − an animal that eats plants.
Insectivore − an animal that eats insects.
Reptile − an animal that crawls or moves on its
belly (as a snake) or on small short legs (as a
lizard)
Scales − small, semi-round, hard plates mainly
used as armor.
Spawn − the reproductive act of fish; the time
when eggs are produced.
Swim bladder − an air filled balloon-like sac
that fish use to regulate the depth of water at
which they want to swim.
Vertebrates − animals with backbones.
b) Make enough copies for each student of three cards: one
with a picture of a fish, another with a frog, and a snake
on the third. Label the cards appropriately with the
words, fish, amphibian, and reptile. Remind the students
that most fish look like the common idea of a fish;
reptiles include tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, and
crocodilians; and amphibians are frogs, toads, newts, and
salamanders.
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