Stage 3 ScienceEnglish Member

The Sorting Safari

Adventure · Teaches: Grouping animals (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects) · Featuring Emily

Emily and her dog Pepper went on a safari (a trip to watch wild animals) with Uncle Christian. “Your job,” said Uncle Christian, “is to sort (put into groups) every animal we see.”

First came an elephant. “It has fur (hair), feeds its baby milk, and breathes air,” said Emily. “That makes it a mammal (a milk-giving, furry animal).” Pepper barked, she is a mammal too!

Next, a weaver bird. “Feathers, a beak, and it lays eggs, that is a bird,” Emily smiled.

Explore in 3D

One of Emily’s safari animals in 3D. It has fur, feeds its baby milk and breathes air, so which group does it belong to? (A mammal!)

Elephant (animated) by GremorySaiyan on Sketchfab · CC Attribution

Keep reading with StoryClever Member

You’re reading a free preview. Unlock the full story, its Word Watch, Maths Moment and printable PDF, plus a new story every day.

See plans, from $39/year Request full access Sign in

This story teaches

Grouping animals (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects)

ScienceEnglish

Answer guide, for grown-ups

Ask each question, then compare. A child’s own words are perfect as long as the idea is right.

1. Name the six animal groups Emily used.

Mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects.

✓ Understood if the child names all six groups.

2. What clues told Emily the elephant was a mammal?

It has fur (hair), feeds its baby milk and breathes air, which are the signs of a mammal.

✓ Understood if the child gives at least two mammal clues such as fur, milk and breathing air.

3. Why is a frog an amphibian and not a reptile?

Because a frog lives partly in water and partly on land (two lives), while a reptile has dry, scaly skin and lays its eggs on land.

✓ Understood if the child explains an amphibian lives both in water and on land.

4. Choose an animal you know and say which group it belongs to, and why.

For example, a cat is a mammal because it has fur and feeds its babies milk.

✓ Understood if the child names an animal, its group and a matching clue.

Maths Moment: 3 mammals + 2 birds + 4 insects + 1 reptile = 10 animals in total.

For parents, Cambridge curriculum

Mapped to these Cambridge Primary objectives. Open a framework to verify.

Science

Stage 3 · Biology
Sort and group living things using observable features and characteristics.
Verify in Cambridge Science (0097) ↗

English

Stage 3 · Vocabulary
Use precise vocabulary and classify words into groups.
Verify in Cambridge English (0058) ↗