Grade 5 Science Living Things – Animals:Vertebrates Notes
Science — Living Things
Subtopic: Animals — Vertebrates (Age 10, Kenya)
What are vertebrates?
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone (also called a spine). They have an internal skeleton (bones) that supports their body. Many animals you know in Kenya are vertebrates, for example: elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, frogs and fish.
- They have a backbone (spine).
- They have an internal skeleton made of bones.
- Most move using legs, wings, fins or a body that swims.
Five groups of vertebrates
Warm-blooded, have hair or fur, feed their young with milk. Examples in Kenya: elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, cow, dog.
Have feathers, wings and lay eggs. Examples in Kenya: ostrich, eagle, chicken, pigeon.
Cold-blooded, have dry scaly skin, usually lay eggs. Examples in Kenya: crocodile, snakes (python), lizards.
Live both in water and on land during their life. Start as larvae (like tadpoles) and grow into adults. Examples: frogs, toads.
Live in water, breathe with gills, usually have scales and fins. Examples in Kenya: tilapia, Nile perch, catfish.
Warm-blooded or cold-blooded?
- Mammals and birds are warm-blooded: they keep their body temperature steady.
- Reptiles, amphibians and most fish are cold-blooded: their body temperature changes with the environment.
Quick life example (frog)
Egg → tadpole (lives in water, breathes with gills) → young frog (grows legs, lungs develop) → adult frog (lives on land and water).
Activity: Classify these animals
Write the group (Mammal, Bird, Reptile, Amphibian, Fish) next to each animal:
- Elephant — ______
- Ostrich — ______
- Nile perch — ______
- Crocodile — ______
- Frog — ______
- Giraffe — ______
- Snake — ______
- Chicken — ______
Show answers
Quick quiz (write answer)
- What do all vertebrates have in common?
- Name two warm-blooded vertebrates.
- Which group does a crocodile belong to?
- Give one example of a fish found in Kenya.
- Describe one change that happens when a tadpole becomes a frog.
(Answers: 1. Backbone/spine; 2. Example: elephant and chicken is not correct — chicken is a bird; better examples: elephant and lion OR human and cow; 3. Reptiles; 4. Nile perch or tilapia; 5. Grows legs and develops lungs.)