Duration

45 minutes

Students 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

  1. Recall prior learning about biological classification, in particular of marine organisms.
  2. 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?
  3. Distribute Student Worksheet: Is it really a fish? (Year 3) and allow students to refer to reference books and/or the internet to complete.
  4. 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.

Keywords

classification, features

Linked External Resources

Beachcombers Education Kit