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Science (EVS K-5) · Class 3

Active learning ideas

What Animals Look Like

Let's become animal detectives today! We will explore the amazing and different ways animals move around from one place to another.

CBSE Learning OutcomesNCERT EVS Class 3: Sub-theme - Animals
15–30 minPairs → Whole Class3 activities

Activity 01

Mystery Object20 min · Whole Class

Animal Movement Charades

Write names or show pictures of different animals on chits. A student picks a chit and acts out how the animal moves without making any sound, while the rest of the class guesses the animal and its movement.

Identify an animal with ears you can see and one with ears you cannot see.

Facilitation TipEncourage students to use their whole body to express the movement, not just their hands.

What to look forUse an exit ticket where students have to draw one animal that flies and one that swims.

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Activity 02

Mystery Object15 min · Pairs

Movement Match-Up

Provide students with picture cards of various animals (e.g., snake, monkey, fish, eagle) and separate cards with movement words (e.g., slither, swing, swim, fly). Students work in pairs to match the animal to its correct movement.

Explain how the skin or covering of a fish is different from that of a bird.

Facilitation TipInclude some animals that have more than one type of movement, like a duck (walks, swims, flies), to spark discussion.

What to look forA worksheet with three columns: Animal Name/Picture, Body Part for Movement, and Type of Movement. Students have to fill in the blanks.

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Activity 03

Mystery Object30 min · Small Groups

Nature Walk Observation

Take the class to the school ground or a nearby park. Ask them to quietly observe any animals or insects they see (ants, birds, squirrels, butterflies) and note down or draw how they are moving.

Compare the hair on a bear with the feathers on a parrot.

Facilitation TipRemind students to observe from a safe distance and not to disturb the creatures.

What to look forProvide a simple checklist with statements like 'I can name an animal that hops' or 'I can explain why a fish has fins' for students to tick.

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Templates

Templates that pair with these Science (EVS K-5) activities

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A few notes on teaching this unit

Begin with a group discussion about how students come to school. Then, shift the focus to animals. Use a mix of pictures, videos, and charades to introduce various movements. Encourage students to think about 'why' an animal moves in a particular way, connecting it to its body.

By the end of this topic, your students will be able to identify how different animals move and name the body parts that help them do so.


Watch Out for These Misconceptions

  • All animals with four legs walk or run in the same way.

    While many four-legged animals like dogs and cats walk, others like frogs and kangaroos use their legs to hop or jump. Their leg structure is different and specially adapted for this movement.

  • Only birds can fly.

    Many insects, like butterflies and houseflies, can fly using their wings. Also, some mammals like bats can fly, and they are not birds.

  • Snakes and worms move in the same way because they don't have legs.

    Snakes move by slithering, using their scales and flexible body to push against the ground. Earthworms move by contracting and relaxing their muscles in a wave-like motion, which is different from slithering.


Methods used in this brief