Mammals
- are vertebrates (have a backbone)
- are warm-blooded animals
- have hair or fur
- breathe through lungs
- give birth to live babies
- care for their young
- produce milk for/nurse their babies
- most live on land (terrestrial)
- some live in water (aquatic)
- Have the students brainstorm any characteristics of mammals that they already know. (See list above.)
- Share the above list of mammal characteristics. (Older students can record this list in their science notebooks.)
- Have students brainstorm a list of animals that fit these characteristics. (dogs, cats, chipmunks, lions, bears, giraffes, whales, dolphins, etc.)
- Begin a class chart with the students' list of mammals. (Add to the chart daily.) Older students can record in their science notebooks.
- Read a book to students about mammals or have older students read books individually or with a partner.
~ Is a Camel a Mammal? from the Cat in the Hat Learning Library (PreK-3)
~Do You Know About Mammals? by Buffy Silverman, Lerner Pub. Co. (Elem.)
(Read a review of this book by Books4Learning here.) 
~ DK Eyewitness MAMMAL
- After reading, have students share any new facts that they learned about mammals.
- Finish by having the kids create a fun Arts and Crafts Activity
~ Give older children a selection of arts and crafts materials and have
them use their knowledge of mammals and their imaginations to create
a mammal (real or imaginary).
them use their knowledge of mammals and their imaginations to create
a mammal (real or imaginary).
~ Younger students can create this great paper towel giraffe created by
TPCrafts.com.
~ If you prefer, students could create this great toilet paper lion created by
TPCrafts.com.
