Duration
45 minutesStudents will classify a range of marine organisms to determine whether they are fish or not.
Preparation
Background information about fish anatomy can be found in the Fact Sheet: Fish Anatomy.
Each student will require a copy of Student Worksheet: Is it really a fish? (Year 3)
This lesson requires students to have access to non-fiction books on marine organisms and/or the internet. It also assumes that students have some prior knowledge of biological classification. The Lesson: What’s a Fish? (Year 3) may precede this lesson.
Western Australian curriculum
LEARNING AREA | STRAND | SUB-STRAND | CODES |
Science | Science understanding | Biological sciences | ACSSU044 |
Steps
- Recall prior learning about biological classification, in particular of marine organisms.
- Brainstorm marine 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?
- Distribute Student Worksheet: Is it really a fish? (Year 3) and allow students to refer to reference books and/or the internet to complete.
- Discuss student answers.
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.