LESSON 9.1 · SC.3.L.15.1
Vertebrates Learning goal: Classify mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
What to know Vertebrates have backbones. Major groups are identified by combinations of body covering, breathing, reproduction, and behavior. One feature alone may not be enough for accurate classification. 🔎 Think like a scientist A dolphin lives in water but breathes air, has live young, and nurses them—evidence that it is a mammal, not a fish.
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What to know Invertebrates do not have backbones. Arthropods are invertebrates with jointed legs and an outer covering. Insects, spiders, and crabs are arthropods despite living differently. 🔎 Think like a scientist A spider has jointed legs and an exoskeleton, so it is an arthropod and an invertebrate.
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What to know Flowering plants produce flowers and seeds. Some seed plants, such as conifers, do not make flowers. Use reproductive and physical structures for classification. 🔎 Think like a scientist An orange tree is a flowering seed plant; a pine is a nonflowering plant that also produces seeds in cones.
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What to know Ferns and mosses do not produce flowers or seeds. They reproduce using spores. Leaves, stems, roots, flowers, cones, seeds, and spores provide classification evidence. 🔎 Think like a scientist Spores on the underside of a fern frond are evidence that it belongs with spore-producing plants.
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Unit 9 benchmark map Crystal Lake’s unit outline is mapped to Florida’s official Grade 3 science course. Lessons group connected ideas so benchmarks are learned in context.
SC.3.L.15.1 VertebratesSC.3.L.15.1 Invertebrates and ArthropodsSC.3.L.15.2 Flowering and Seed PlantsSC.3.L.15.2 Ferns, Mosses, and Spores
Sources and curriculum references Crystal Lake Elementary — Grade 3 Science outline Local Unit 1 scope: science, scientists, and the framework of investigation.
CPALMS — Science, Grade Three course 5020040 Florida’s official current Grade 3 science course and benchmark set.
Florida DOE — Grade 3 course standards Official consolidated course-standard language, including SC.3.N.1 and SC.3.N.3.