I had a few requests to see inside our animal classification boxes since we recently revisited them for our “2nd Great Lesson” science shelves.
I made these boxes a while back to help drive home the key characteristics of animal classes. We have a box for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and one general invertebrates box.
This pairs perfectly with the Waseca Biomes (affiliate) INTRODUCTION TO THE BIOMES WITH CURRICULUM as well as their stamp set. As you can see in the photos, I have some of the intro to biomes cards kept in our animal boxes.
I also have matching animal classification cards that are still free for the time being here.
BIRDS
Alright — this was a fun unit and my most well-stocked box. The Waseca Biome cards are top right of the mat. The Sibley’s backyard bird guides can be found a few places; I got ours at Bass Pro Shop. There’s a Flamingo book that was free from Chick-fil-a. Birds of North America cards are from Amazon. (affiliate) Try searching Lakeshore Learning for “bird” for the science viewer, specimen center. Lakeshore Learning: “Life cycle sequencing” for the miniatures and “slides” for a plethora of slide options for the microscope. The kids adore these.
MAMMALS
Again Lakeshore Learning animal specimen center for the beaver skull, giant hippo tooth, bear claw, giant animal cards and bobcat footprints. Waseca cards I was too lazy to unwrap for you. Sorry. Barbie puppy that gives birth to puppies included since mammals are viviparous. Hape wooden Milk to represent mammals nurse their young. I cut a swatch of furry fabric selected at Joann Fabrics. I used a coupon and got the minimum allowed — want to say it only cost a couple bucks. Again search slides at Lakeshore and so many great animal slide options come up. We simply separated the kits to go into each box. Likewise we separated an “easy-view skeleton set” from Lakeshore between the boxes. That’s a tiny bat skeleton there. Great for cave units too.
INVERTEBRATES
Again a vast majority of this is from Lakeshore Learning “specimen centers” including the sealife and insects kits and all the encased skeletons (or exoskeletons / insects). The butterfly life cycle is Lakeshore. The yellow butterfly book and life cycle cards are from Montessori Print Shop. Pamphlet again purchased from Bass Pro — but you can search for similar ones on Amazon.
REPTILES
A whole lotta plastic snakes I that came to us because my son is a boy and somehow attracts toys like that. Waseca cards under wraps again. Lakeshore “specimen” items include the lizard “fossil”, turtle shell, croc chomper and lizard skull replicas. Also from our fish printing work a rubber lizard from Blick Art Supply. All the goodness of printing with no dead animals involved. Win win!
October 8… did I really do this project with a 5 month old? I don’t remember it at all. Sometimes I amaze myself really.
AMPHIBIANS
A personal favorite of mine. I love frogs. Easy reader and stuffed frog free from Chick-fil-a. I saved all those suckers. Waseca Biomes for the parts of the frog 3 part cards. Reptile (and more) pamphlet found here. Life cycle frog set from Lakeshore. Rubber bullfrog from Blick Art. This wonderful letter about amphibians, told in a first hand narrative, is from the always wonderful Allyson at Tanglewood Hollow (her IG). Her shop is here: I’m a big fan of her work. I’m 89% sure those frog continent cards are from Every Star is Different. Again my memory is not so hot anymore. Too many projects. Many, many kids.
FISH
Last but not least the fish box. Another great pamphlet found on Amazon. Have you gathered that we live in Florida yet? Waseca Biome cards bottom left. Lakeshore specimen kit for the jaws, slides, tooth, fossil, fish and giant picture cards with facts on the back. Again rubber fish from our art / science study from Blick Art. Love it.
So there you have it. The guts, so to speak, of our animal boxes. If I can clarify our work or pinpoint sources better please don’t hesitate to comment or DM me on IG. Right now these boxes offer a fun way to recall the characteristics of animals and do some studies on local critters.
They definitely will need some beefing up the next time we use them to be on par with elementary level work. I’ll find more challenging add-ins then.
