Topic: Mammals

Supplementary material for use in lessons in the group of natural sciences (nature, biology, chemistry, geography, physics), additional classes, science clubs. It can serve as a resource for expanding knowledge, preparing students for science competitions.

Target group
Students of elementary school – biology

Core Curriculum

General aim of education

Pupils describe the characteristics of mammals.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• exchange the features of mammals' construction;

• recognize selected mammals living in Poland.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers;

• cubes with names of selected species of mammals (dice).

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• Students get acquainted with the content of the abstract. They prepare to work on the lesson in such a way to be able to summarize the material read in their own words and solve the tasks themselves.

Introduction

• The teacher explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

Realization

• The teacher asks the pupils to read the fragment „Mammalian traits,” and then formulated eight sentences, beginning with the word „Mammals” and describing the characteristics of these animals. Selected students read their sentences, the teacher corrects any mistakes.

• Students read the fragment „Mammals in Poland” and they look at photographs depicting selected species of mammals found in our country („Gallery 1”). The teacher divides the class into groups. Members of each team sit in circles. Then they throw a dice and characterize the selected species of a mammal.

• The teacher instructs students to create a list of known species of mammals in notebooks. Volunteers present their suggestions.

• The teacher displays an interactive illustration of „Selected protected mammals in Poland”. He asks his pupils to add their names to their lists or emphasize them with a red color if they were included during the creation of lists.

Summary

• The teacher asks students to carry out the recommended interactive exercise themselves.

Homework

• Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

• Carry out tasks number 1.1.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Mammals

Mammals are animals which feed their young with milk – a secretion of nutrients produced in the mother's body. All mammals have four limbs. In flying mammals (for example, bats) the forelimbs are formed into wings. Mammals which dig in the ground (for example, moles) have wide forelimbs, which are short and strong. In certain marine mammals, the hind limbs have disappeared.

Mammals' bodies are covered in hairs, which grow out of their skin. They have an insulating function – they trap the heat produced in the body. Another characteristic of mammals is the presence in the skin of numerous glands, which secrete various substances, for example, sweat. Mammals also have two types of teeth: the young have milk teeth, which are gradually exchanged for permanent teeth.

Mammals breathe with their lungs. They are warm‑blooded, meaning that a lot of the energy produced is used to warm their body. Because of this, they require more food than, for example, reptiles, but with it they are able to function in cold climates, for example, in the tundra. Almost all mammals are viviparous. After birth, the young are fed with milk, which is produced in the mother's milk glands. Mammals look after their offspring.

As a result of their characteristics, these animals have conquered all environments on Earth. They live on land, in trees, in the soil, in the water and in the air. The largest animals are the ocean‑dwelling blue whales, which are also mammals. Humans, who have conquered the whole Earth, and even flown into space, are also mammals.

Over one hundred species of mammal live in natural conditions in the wild in Poland. They belong to several different groups. Small, insect‑eating mammals are, for example, moles and shrews, which are similar to mice. 25 species of flying mammal occur in Poland – bats. Bats can not only fly, but also use sounds to track and catch their prey. In fields all over the country we can find hares, and in the West of the country – rabbits. Rodents can be found in all environments, and include beavers, muskrats, voles, mice and rats. Among large herbivorous mammals, we can count ungulates, or animals with hooves (aurochs, boar, moose, deer and roe‑deer).

There are also predatory mammals living in Poland. Weasels, martens and foxes are common. There are far fewer large predators, such as wolves and bears. It is worth adding that seals can be found on the coasts of Poland. In the Polish waters of the Baltic Sea, porpoises occur – marine mammals which are similar to dolphins. Porpoises, however, lead more secretive lives, and have a more stocky body.

• Mammals are animals which feed their young with mother's milk; their bodies are usually covered in hairs.

• All mammals are warm‑blooded.

• Mammals generally give birth to live young.

• Mammals look after their offspring.

• Mammals have conquered all environments on Earth.