Animal Groups Detective Packet
🦁
CKLA Unit 2 • Lesson 3 Group 1 • Mammals
Mammal Detective Report
Name:
Date:
Field Mission:
1. Check mammal traits below 2. Examine the 3 case files 3. Spot and explain the imposter!
Part 1: Mammal Trait Checklist Check all correct traits
🌡️ Body Temperature:
Warm-blooded Cold-blooded
🦔 Body Covering:
Fur or Hair Scales or Plates
🫁 Breathing:
Lungs all life Gills in water
🍼 Baby Nutrition:
Mother makes milk No mother's milk
Part 2: Creature Case Studies (Find the Imposter!) Read clues, check the verdict, and write your proof!
🦁 Case File A
African Lion
• Covered in a coat of golden fur
• Maintains warm body temperature
• Mothers feed cubs rich milk
Scientist Verdict:
Mammal Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🐋 Case File B
Blue Whale
• Swims deep in the ocean
• Rises to the surface to breathe air with lungs
• Gives birth to live calves and nurses them
Scientist Verdict:
Mammal Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🦈 Case File C
Great White Shark
• Breathes water through 5 gill slits
• Cold-blooded body temperature
• Skeleton made of flexible cartilage
Scientist Verdict:
Mammal Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🎨 Field Sketch: My Favorite Mammal Draw & label fur/hair
Student Drawing Space
Mammal Name:
Official Imposter Report
1. Which creature is NOT a mammal?
2. What proof shows it belongs to a different group?
Does it have a backbone? [ ] YES (Vertebrate) [ ] NO
🦅
CKLA Unit 2 • Lesson 3 Group 2 • Birds
Bird Detective Report
Name:
Date:
Field Mission:
1. Check bird traits below 2. Examine the 3 case files 3. Spot and explain the imposter!
Part 1: Bird Trait Checklist Check all correct traits
🌡️ Body Temperature:
Warm-blooded Cold-blooded
🪶 Unique Covering:
Feathers Hair or Fur
🪽 Anatomy:
2 Wings & a Beak Mouth with teeth
🥚 How Born:
Hard-shelled eggs Soft jelly eggs
Part 2: Creature Case Studies (Find the Imposter!) Read clues, check the verdict, and write your proof!
🦅 Case File A
Bald Eagle
• Body covered in flight feathers
• Light hollow bones and curved beak
• Hatches from hard-shelled eggs in high nests
Scientist Verdict:
Bird Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🐧 Case File B
Emperor Penguin
• Covered in dense, oily waterproof feathers
• Uses flipper wings to swim icy waters
• Lays one hard-shelled egg on sea ice
Scientist Verdict:
Bird Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🦇 Case File C
Fruit Bat
• Flies through the air with wing membranes
• Body is covered in soft brown fur (no feathers)
• Has teeth and feeds live pups mother's milk
Scientist Verdict:
Bird Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🎨 Field Sketch: My Favorite Bird Draw beak & wings
Student Drawing Space
Bird Name:
Official Imposter Report
1. Which creature is NOT a bird?
2. What proof shows it belongs to a different group?
Does it have a backbone? [ ] YES (Vertebrate) [ ] NO
🦎
CKLA Unit 2 • Lesson 3 Group 3 • Reptiles
Reptile Detective Report
Name:
Date:
Field Mission:
1. Check reptile traits below 2. Examine the 3 case files 3. Spot and explain the imposter!
Part 1: Reptile Trait Checklist Check all correct traits
🌡️ Body Temperature:
Warm-blooded Cold-blooded
🛡️ Skin Type:
Dry, scaly skin Moist slimy skin
🫁 Breathing:
Lungs all life Gills as babies
🥚 Eggs are:
Leathery on land Jelly in water
Part 2: Creature Case Studies (Find the Imposter!) Read clues, check the verdict, and write your proof!
🐢 Case File A
Green Sea Turtle
• Protected by hard bony shell & dry scales
• Breathes air with lungs, swims with flippers
• Climbs onto beaches to lay leathery eggs
Scientist Verdict:
Reptile Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🦎 Case File B
Chameleon
• Covered in rough, dry, scaly skin
• Basks in morning sunlight to warm body
• Breathes air with lungs its whole life
Scientist Verdict:
Reptile Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🦎 Case File C
Spotted Salamander
• Smooth, wet, slimy skin with NO scales
• Must stay damp so skin doesn't dry out
• Hatched in water with gills from jelly eggs
Scientist Verdict:
Reptile Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🎨 Field Sketch: My Favorite Reptile Draw dry scales
Student Drawing Space
Reptile Name:
Official Imposter Report
1. Which creature is NOT a reptile?
2. What proof shows it belongs to a different group?
Does it have a backbone? [ ] YES (Vertebrate) [ ] NO
🐸
CKLA Unit 2 • Lesson 3 Group 4 • Amphibians
Amphibian Detective Report
Name:
Date:
Field Mission:
1. Check amphibian traits below 2. Examine the 3 case files 3. Spot and explain the imposter!
Part 1: Amphibian Trait Checklist Check all correct traits
🌿 Meaning of Name:
"Double life" "Sea swimmer"
💧 Skin Type:
Smooth & moist Dry with scales
🌡️ Body Temperature:
Warm-blooded Cold-blooded
🔄 Life Change:
Gills ➔ Lungs Never changes
Part 2: Creature Case Studies (Find the Imposter!) Read clues, check the verdict, and write your proof!
🐸 Case File A
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
• Hatched as swimming tadpole with gills
• Smooth, moist skin absorbs water and air
• Lays soft jelly eggs on leaves above water
Scientist Verdict:
Amphibian Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🦎 Case File B
Spotted Salamander
• Lives under damp forest logs
• Wet, shiny skin with NO scales
• Cold-blooded body temperature
Scientist Verdict:
Amphibian Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🐍 Case File C
Garter Snake
• Body is covered in dry, waterproof scales
• Breathes with lungs its entire life
• Never has gills or a swimming larval stage
Scientist Verdict:
Amphibian Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🎨 Field Sketch: My Favorite Amphibian Draw moist skin
Student Drawing Space
Amphibian Name:
Official Imposter Report
1. Which creature is NOT an amphibian?
2. What proof shows it belongs to a different group?
Does it have a backbone? [ ] YES (Vertebrate) [ ] NO
🐟
CKLA Unit 2 • Lesson 3 Group 5 • Fish
Fish Detective Report
Name:
Date:
Field Mission:
1. Check fish traits below 2. Examine the 3 case files 3. Spot and explain the imposter!
Part 1: Fish Trait Checklist Check all correct traits
🌊 Habitat:
All life in water Lives on dry land
🐟 Covering:
Wet, slimy scales Soft warm fur
🫧 Breathing:
Gills absorb oxygen Lungs for air
🏊 Movement:
Fins & tail Legs & paws
Part 2: Creature Case Studies (Find the Imposter!) Read clues, check the verdict, and write your proof!
🐠 Case File A
Clownfish
• Covered in bright wet scales
• Uses fins to steer and swim around reefs
• Breathes dissolved oxygen with gills
Scientist Verdict:
Fish Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🦈 Case File B
Hammerhead Shark
• Breathes water with 5 gill slits
• Cold-blooded cartilaginous fish
• Uses powerful fins and tail to swim
Scientist Verdict:
Fish Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🐬 Case File C
Bottlenose Dolphin
• Swims fast with fins and flukes
• Breathes air at surface into lungs (no gills)
• Warm-blooded & feeds baby calves rich milk
Scientist Verdict:
Fish Imposter!
My Scientific Evidence:
🎨 Field Sketch: My Favorite Fish Draw wet scales & fins
Student Drawing Space
Fish Name:
Official Imposter Report
1. Which creature is NOT a fish?
2. What proof shows it belongs to a different group?
Does it have a backbone? [ ] YES (Vertebrate) [ ] NO