Grade : 6 Learning

area : Natural Science

ALL ABOUT ANIMALS

1. The learners will work effectively with others as members of a group, team,
organisation and community.
2. The learners will organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly
and effectively.
3. The learners will collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

Knowledge Skills Values

Animal fact file,
omnivores, herbivores,
carnivores, teeth and
feeding of mammals,
predators, reptiles,
amphibians. Birds and
fish.
Observing, communicating Care of the environment,
results, comparing and respect for all living
drawing conclusions, creatures, sharing
investigating, tabulating information and
information, identifying equipment, completion of
similarities and tasks, working
differences, sequencing cooperatively, learning
events, research and from each other, self
recording. confidence, patience,
taking turns, meeting
deadlines.

Resources
Learners book, stationary, class work books, papers, cardboard, drawing materials, old
magazines, scissors, glue, predators, South African birds, a live lizard and an observation
tank, books with pictures of different mammals for observation.

Mammals
Nearly all mammals have some sharp teeth at the front of their jaws. These teeth are called
incisors. They have blunter, more rounded teeth at the sides. These are called the molars;
Some mammals also have sharp, pointed teeth near the front of their jaws, called canines.
Mammals can be grouped by kinds of food they eat.

Herbivores
Most mammals are herbivores. Herbivores eat only plants. Sheep and cattle are herbivores.
They pull the plants with their incisors and grind them up with their molars. Rats and
squirrels are also herbivores. They have very large incisors for tearing bark off trees or the
shells of nuts.

Carnivores
Animals that eat only the flesh of other animals are called carnivores. They have teeth all
around the front of their mouths. Some carnivores, like lions, use their incisors and canines
to grab and hold their prey. They crush the bones with their molars which are strong with
sharp, pointed edges.

Omnivores
Animals that eat plants and animals are called omnivores. They use incisors for biting and
cutting, canines for tearing meat and molars for chewing plants.
Predators
Most carnivores hunt for their food. We call these hunters predators and the animals that
they hunt are called the prey. Predators have to do three things before they can eat: they
have to find their prey, they have to hunt and they have to kill their prey. Not all predators
are mammals

Amphibians
Young frogs or tadpoles live in water and breathe through gills, like fish. The adult frog can
live in water or on dry land and has lungs. A female frog can lay up to 4000 eggs at a time.
Why do you think it is necessary for her to lay so many eggs? The male frog fertilizes the
eggs outside the female’s body as they are laid. During winter, frogs hibernate in the mud at
the bottom of ponds.

Birds
Birds can be classified as herbivores, carnivores or omnivores.
Herbivorous birds, such as pigeons, sugarbirds and mousebirds, eat different parts of
plants – seeds, fruits, nectar and sometimes flowers and leaves as well.
Carnivorous birds that hunt for their prey are called raptors. These birds, such as eagles
and barn owls, are very important in the food chain. They do a lot of good by eating animals
such as rats and mice that could become serious pests.
Omnivorous birds, they eat insects, other small animals and parts of plants. Fowls scratch
on the ground and eat seeds as well as insects. Ducks eat small plants and animals in the
water.
The beak and feet of birds are adapted to their life-styles and feeding habits.

Some examples of mammals:

Learning Area: Natural Science
Grade: 6
Marks: 50
Question 1

Crossword puzzle about birds

1 2 3

10 11 12

13

14 15

16

17

18

Clues down
2. A baby bird is called this.
4. Long legs prevent a heron from getting its body…while wading in water.
5 .Eggs must be kept… if they are to hatch.
6. Another word for beak is …….
7. A small, green fruit that fruit-eating birds really enjoy.
11. A place in the gullet where some birds soften food for their chicks.
12. A type of grain eaten by fowls.
14. A domestic pet that likes to chase birds.
15. The woodpecker eats these.
16. Baby birds are covered with this before their feathers grow.
17. A pest that raptors enjoy eating.
18. Not all birds build one of these.

Clues Down
1.This brightly coloured herbivore is often kept as a pet.
3. Raptors or birds of prey belong to this group of birds.
4. Ducks and geese have feet like this to help them swim.
9. A bird that only eats different parts of plants is called a…………
10. The sunbird drinks this from flowers
13. Birds with strong, cane-shaped beaks can crack these to eat them. (18)
 Question 2

Answer the following questions.

1. Name two characteristics of mammals.
2. Name the three types of teeth found in most mammals.
3. Name two characteristics of amphibians.
4. Name three things that predators must do before they can eat.
5. What is an amphibian? (12)

Question 3

Copy and complete the table below

Animal Omnivore Carnivore Herbivore

Name

What it eats

How it eats

Shape and size of

incisors.
Shape and size of
canines.
And size of molars.

(20)