New
New
Year 3

Animals without bones

I can compare and group invertebrate animals, based on the structure of their bodies.

New
New
Year 3

Animals without bones

I can compare and group invertebrate animals, based on the structure of their bodies.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Some animals do not have any bones.
  2. Animals that do not have bones, including a spine, inside their bodies are called invertebrates.
  3. Some invertebrate animals have a hard layer or shell for protection on the outside of their bodies called an exoskeleton
  4. Some invertebrate animals' bodies are filled with fluid, such as worms and jellyfish.

Common misconception

Pupils may believe if an animal has a head, extremities and an external skeleton it is a vertebrate.

Share images of lots of animals with exoskeletons and compare them to a knight that puts on armour to protect themselves from injury.

Keywords

  • Invertebrates - Animals that do not have bones, including a spine, on the inside of their bodies are invertebrates.

  • Spine - The backbone of an animal is also called its spine.

  • Exoskeleton - An exoskeleton is the hard outer layer that covers, supports, and protects the body of an invertebrate.

  • Compare - We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.

  • Fluid - A fluid is a gas or liquid that moves freely.

With care, let the children look at real invertebrates that they may find in the school grounds to observe the hard outer covering. If finance allows, work with a company that brings in a variety of invertebrates for the children to see up close.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Secondary resources to research invertebrates. Look for videos of animals shedding exoskeletons.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
  • Exploration of objects

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these living things that are found on Earth are animals?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: zebra
Correct answer: clown fish
sycamore tree
Correct answer: tortoise
daisy
Q2.
A human has different shapes and sizes of to protect and support their body.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: bones, skeleton, bone
Q3.
Which of these describes the properties of a bone?
An image in a quiz
Bones are soft and flexible. They bend easily.
Correct answer: Bones are hard and rigid. They don't break easily.
Bones are soft and rigid. They break easily.
Q4.
All vertebrates have a...
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: backbone, spine
Q5.
Where would you find a vertebrate's spine?
An image in a quiz
In its feet.
In its head.
In its mouth.
Correct answer: In its back.
In its wings.
Q6.
Where is the skeleton of an animal that has an endoskeleton?
An image in a quiz
on the outside of its body
Correct answer: inside its body
next to its body
underneath its body
above its body

6 Questions

Q1.
Do all animals have bones?
An image in a quiz
Yes, all animals have bones.
Correct answer: Some animals have bones.
Only humans have bones.
Q2.
If an animal is an invertebrate, it doesn't have a...
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: spine, backbone
Q3.
Match the animal to its correct group.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:octopus,invertebrate

invertebrate

Correct Answer:snake,vertebrate

vertebrate

Correct Answer:worm,invertebrate

invertebrate

Correct Answer:lizard,vertebrate

vertebrate

Correct Answer:cuttlefish,invertebrate

invertebrate

Correct Answer:hedgehog,vertebrate

vertebrate

Q4.
What is the scientific name for the hard layer, or covering, that protects some invertebrates?
An image in a quiz
a shell
its armour
an endoskeleton
Correct answer: an exoskeleton
a skeleton
Q5.
Which of these animals has an exoskeleton?
An image in a quiz
snake
turtle
Correct answer: snail
octopus
worm
Q6.
An invertebrate without an exoskeleton, has inside its body instead of bones.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: fluid, liquid