Description

The Montessori Zoology curriculum encourages the Child/ren to start by; observing; and discussing animals in their immediate environment.  This explains why the initial activities revolve around animal families and groups, pets and farm animals.  These activities lead onto discussions about vertebrate and invertebrate animals; providing an opportunity for the guide to introduce the Vertebrate Sorting Cards.

This activity introduces the concept of categorisation to the Child, which forms the foundation of animal classification.

Feature of the Vertebrate Sorting Cards

• the direct objective of this material, introduces:
  • the concept of categorising animals with backbones, into 5 different classes
  • the terminology ‘vertebrate’, for each class of animal and its meaning
• indirectly, the Child realises
  • how we relate to each other
  • what the different categorisations mean
  • improves focus and concentration
• curriculum support material; aligned to the Montessori language and zoology curriculum
• improves sorting skills
• introduces discussions about animals

Contents of the Vertebrate Sorting Activity

• 25 image cards illustrating different vertebrate animals – 10.5 x 9 cm / (3.5″ x 4″)
• 5 header cards, one for each class of animal;  birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals
• an A6 transparent plastic envelope to store and display the cards on the shelves – 18 x 12.5 x 0.5 cm / (7″ x 5″ x 2″)

Further Reading and Resources

Vertebrate Definition – Brittanica