Duration

30 minutes

Students will discuss features that determine a fish and classify a range of marine organisms.

Preparation

The Lesson: What’s a Fish? would be a good introduction to precede this lesson.

Background information about fish anatomy can be found in the Fact Sheet: Fish Anatomy.

Students will require a copy of Student Worksheet: Is it really a fish? (Year 1)

 

Additional Resources

Ayling, T. & Parish, S. 2009 A Wild Australia Guide: Marine Life. Steve Parish Publishing, Queensland.

Ayling, T. & Parish, S. 2008 Amazing Facts about Australian Marine Life. Steve Parish Publishing, Queensland.

Department of Fisheries, Beachcombers Education Kit, http://beachcombers-kit.fish.wa.gov.au/

Parish, S. 2008 Amazing Facts about Australian Marine Fishes. Steve Parish Publishing, Queensland.

Western Australian curriculum

LEARNING AREA STRAND SUB-STRAND CODES
Science Science understanding Biological sciences ACSSU017

Steps

  1. Recall any prior learning about biological classification, in particular of fish (bony, cartilaginous, jawless fishes).
  2. Brainstorm creatures that have the word ‘fish’ in their name, e.g. cuttlefish, jellyfish. Discuss whether all of these are actually fish and why or why not?
  3. Distribute Student Worksheet: Is it really a fish? (Year 1) and allow students time to attempt.
  4. Discuss student answers.

Keywords

classification, features, fish