Coverings Teacher Guide
Animal Armor and Outfits
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Target Grade
Kindergarten - 1st Grade
Learning Objective
Students will be able to sort animals into categories based on their body coverings: fur/hair, feathers, and scales.
Materials Needed
- 3 Mystery Bags
- Faux fur, feather, sequins
- Animal Picture Cards
- 3 Hula hoops or bins
- Hoop Labels
- Follow-up Worksheet
Pacing
Warm-up 5 min
Video & Recap 5 min
Animal Relay 15 min
Closure 5 min
1. Warm-up: Touch and Guess (5 min)
Pass around three "Mystery Bags" containing a piece of faux fur, a feather, and a sequined cloth (representing scales).
Prompt: "Don't look inside! Just feel. Is it soft? Is it scratchy? Does it feel like something an animal might wear?"
2. Video Viewing: Animal Body Coverings (5 min)
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w14VNsmbi38
- 0:19-0:33: Basic Classification. Pause here! Recap the three types: Mammals (fur/hair), Birds (feathers), Reptiles/Fish (scales).
- Teaching Tip: Ask students to look at their own skin. What do humans have? (Hair).
3. Main Activity: Animal Sort Relay (15 min)
Set Up
Place 3 hula hoops at the far end of the room. Label them: Fur/Hair, Feathers, and Scales.
The Game
- Divide the class into small teams.
- Give each student one Animal Picture Card.
- One by one, students run to the hoops and place their animal in the correct "home" based on its covering.
- Once everyone is done, walk to the hoops as a class to "check the work."
4. Closure: The Human Group (5 min)
Gather in a circle. Hold up a picture of a human and ask which hoop they belong in.
Key Question: "We don't have thick fur like a bear or scales like a snake. How do we stay warm? (We wear clothes!)"
Key Vocabulary
External Structure
A part on the outside of an animal's body.
Camouflage
Colors or patterns that help an animal hide.
Armor
A hard covering that protects the body (like scales).
Waterproof
Something that keeps water out (like penguin feathers).
Eruption Slides
Animal Armor
& Outfits
What is on the outside of an animal?
Fur
Feathers
Scales
Mystery Bag Time!
🧸
Bag 1
How does it feel?
🪶
Bag 2
Is it light or heavy?
✨
Bag 3
Is it smooth or bumpy?
Keep your guesses a secret! 🤫
Embedded media
Pause at 0:30
Let's see the 3 big groups!
The Big Three
Fur / Hair
Keeps animals warm and safe.
🐕 🐻 🐱
Feathers
Helps birds fly and stay dry.
🦜 🦉 🐧
Scales
Like tough armor for protection.
🐍 🐟 🐢
The Tiger's Striped Fur
Stays Warm in Snow
Hides in Tall Grass
"Can you see me? I'm hiding!"
🐅
🦔
Spiky Fur?
The Echidna has fur that is hard and sharp!
It's for safety!
Other animals don't want to bite a spiky ball!
Waterproof Feathers
Penguins can't fly, but they can swim!
Stay dry in the ice water.
Water slides right off their feathers!
🐧
Animal Sort Relay!
🏃♂️
1. Run
➡️
🗂️
2. Sort
➡️
🤝
3. Check
Find the right hoop for your animal!
What about US?
🧒
Do humans have fur?
Do humans have feathers?
We have HAIR!
How do we stay warm if we don't have thick fur?
Body Covering Worksheet
Animal Covering Match
Name: ____________________
Date: __________
Draw a line to match the animal to its body covering. Color the animals when you're done!
🐕
🦜
🐠
🐻
Feathers
Scales
Fur
Fur
My Favorite Animal Outfit
Draw an animal you like. Does it have fur, feathers, or scales?
Fur
Feathers
Scales