1. EXTERNAL FEATURES OF ANIMALS

Animals have several characteristics that set them apart from other living things. All of these animals share some similarities. They also have differences. Parts of the body of an animal that you can observe are called the external features of that animal.

ANIMALS WORLD

The external features of an animal are the details of the animal that you can see.

For examples:

• A fish has fins and a tail. Its body is covered with scales. A fish has no legs.

• An elephant has four legs, a trunk, tusks, head and eyes. It also has big ears and body.

These are examples of the external features of animals.

Look at these animals. Identify their external features.

Things that look the same are called similar. Things that do not look the same are called different. When we compare two things, we look for their similarities and differences. **Some animals are not safe to be touched. Be kind to animals.

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Let's get an example of a PARROT and an OSTRICH !

What are the similarities between a parrot and an ostrich?

A parrot and an ostrich have similar external features. Both have wings, beaks and two legs. Their bodies are covered with features.

Any differences between a parrot and an ostrich?

An ostrich and a parrot also have different external features. An ostrich has a long neck and two long legs while a parrot has a short neck and two short legs. The beak of a parrot is short and hooked while an ostrich has a flat beak.

EXERCISE 1

List the external features of the animal.

Animal	Features
Butterfly
Fish
Goat
Parrot

Answer: CLICK HERE

2. GROUPING OF ANIMALS

We can group animals based on the external features that they share i.e. similarities in external features. Animals can be grouped in different ways, for examples:

• The fish, snake and crocodile can be grouped together because they have scales.

• Fish and shark can be grouped together because they have fins.

• Buffalo, rhinoceros, saber antelope and deer can be grouped together because they have horns.

• Peacock, swan, parrot, bird, duck and chicken can be grouped together because they have feathers.

• While lion, baboon and highland cow can be grouped together because they have hair.

• We can also group animals according to the number of legs that they have. Animals with many legs i.e. centipede and millipede; animals with no legs i.e. snake, snail and fish; animals with two legs i.e. duck, flamingo and rooster; animals with four legs i.e. crocodile, toad, rat, elephant, horse, tiger and kangaroo; animals with five legs (most common) i.e. starfish; animals with six legs i.e. grasshopper, mosquito, bee and fly; animals with eight legs i.e. spider.

• Cat, squirrel, wolf and koala bear can be grouped together because they have furs.

• We can also group animals according to the shape of beaks they have. Animals with long beak i.e. ibis and pelican; animals with short and hooked beak i.e. parrot and eagle; animal with flat beak i.e. ostrich.

• Crab and parrot can be grouped together because they have claws.

• Tortoise, turtle and snail can be grouped together because they have shells.

• Butterfly, bee and dragonfly can be grouped together because they have wings.

EXERCISE 2

Complete the table.

Group	External Features	Animals with the same features
1	Fur
2		Goat, Cow, Deer, Bull
3		Snake, Lizard, Crocodile, Armadillo
4	Beak
5		Butterfly, Grasshopper, Bat, Bee

Answer: CLICK HERE

1. EXTERNAL FEATURES OF PLANTS

Plants have different sizes, shapes, and colours. They make our world a beautiful place to stay in. The different parts of a plant that you can observe is called the external features.

Most plants have the same main parts: leaves, stems, flowers and fruits. However, these features do not look the same.

These are non-flowering plants.

These are non-flowering plants.

Most plants have green leaves. However, some have yellow or red leaves. Some leaves are shiny and some are dull. The surface of leaves are smooth or rough. The shape of leaves can be irregular, oval, round or long. 

Plants also have their similarities and differences of the external feature.

Let's take an example of ROSE and HIBISCUS.

Similarities:

• Both plants have woody stem.

• Both plants have flowers.

Differences:

• The rose has thorns but the hibiscus does not have any thorns.

2. GROUPING OF PLANTS

Most plants have these features: leaves, stem, or flowers. These features may look similar or different. Plants can be grouped according to their similar external features. For examples:

• Waterlily, durian tree and orchid can be grouped together because they are flowering plants.

• Staghorn ferm, pine tree and mosses can be grouped together because they are non-flowering plants.

• Banana tree, watermelon plant and sweet potato can be grouped together because they are soft stem.

• Mangosteen, rambutan tree and hibiscus can be grouped together because they are woody stem.

EXERCISE

True or False

1. Pineapple         - woody stem         [______]

2. Mangoeteen    - woody stem          [______]

3. Sweet Potato   - soft stem               [______]

4. Alamanda        - soft stem                [______]

5. Lotus                 - flowering               [______]

6. Carrot               - flowering                [______]

7. Pandanus         - long leaves             [______]

8. Tapico               - irregilar leaves      [______]

Answer: 1.False  2.True  3.True  4.False  5.True  6.False  7.True  8.True

3. DIFFERENT WAYS OF GROUPING PLANTS

We also can grouped according to their external features but in different type.

Let take the group of flowering plants or non-flowering plants, it can grouped in other way by their leaves into 3 types: long leaves, oval leaves and irregular shaped leaves. 

• Maize, sugar cane, pineapple and paddy can be grouped together because they are plants with long leaves. 

• Tapioca, balsam and rose can be grouped together because they are plants with irregular shaped leaves.

• Mango tree, durian tree and flame of the forest can be grouped together because they are plants with oval leaves.

EXERCISE

List the type of leaves in the blank box.

Group	Types of Leaves	Plants with the same features
1		Rose, Hibiscus, Peppermint
2		Banana Tree, Sugarcane, Pineapple
3		Mango Tree, Durian Tree, Rambutan Tree

Answer:  1.Irregular shaped leaves   2.Long leaves   3.Oval leaves

ANSWER

Answer Exercise 1:

Animal	Features
Butterfly	Wings, Body, Legs, Eyes
Fish	Fin, Tail, Scales, Mouth
Goat	Horns, Hair, Legs, Tail
Parrot	Beak, Wings, Feather, Eyes

Answer Exercise 2:

Group	External Features	Animals with the same features
1	Fur	Sheep, Tiger, Bear, Rabbit
2	Horns	Goat, Cow, Deer, Bull
3	Scales	Snake, Lizard, Crocodile, Armadillo
4	Beak	Bird, Chicken, Ostrich, Penguin
5	Wings	Butterfly, Grasshopper, Bat, Bee