Animal Coverings: Fur, Feathers, Scales, and Shells
How body coverings help animals survive
Animal Coverings: Fur, Feathers, Scales, and Shells
How body coverings help animals survive
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
A rabbit has soft fur covering its body. What is one way fur helps the rabbit?
Think about why people wear coats in cold weather.
Fur helps the rabbit stay warm. It can also help protect the rabbit's skin. - 2
A duck has feathers. What is one way feathers help a duck?
Feathers help a duck stay warm and dry. Some feathers also help ducks fly. - 3
A fish has scales. How do scales help a fish?
Think about where fish live and how they move.
Scales help protect the fish's body. They also help the fish move smoothly through water. - 4
A turtle has a shell. What is the main job of the turtle's shell?
The turtle's shell protects its body. It helps keep the turtle safe from danger. - 5
Sort these animals by their body covering: cat, bird, snake, clam. Write fur, feathers, scales, or shell for each animal.
Match each animal to the covering you would see or feel on the outside of its body.
A cat has fur, a bird has feathers, a snake has scales, and a clam has a shell. - 6
A polar bear lives in a very cold place. Which body covering helps it stay warm, and why?
A polar bear has thick fur. The fur helps keep the polar bear warm in cold weather. - 7
A bird uses its feathers to fly. Name one other way feathers can help a bird.
Feathers do more than help with flying.
Feathers can help a bird stay warm. They can also help protect its skin or keep water off its body. - 8
Which animal covering is usually hard: fur, feathers, scales, or shell? Explain your answer.
A shell is usually hard. It helps protect animals like turtles, clams, and snails. - 9
A snake has dry scales. What is one way scales help protect a snake?
Think about a snake sliding over rocks, dirt, or grass.
Scales help protect the snake's skin as it moves along the ground. They act like a covering over its body. - 10
Look at these clues: This animal has feathers, lays eggs, and has a beak. What type of animal covering does it have?
The animal has feathers. Feathers are the body covering of birds. - 11
A snail carries a shell on its back. How can the shell help the snail when it is in danger?
Think about a safe hiding place.
The shell can help protect the snail. The snail can pull its soft body into the shell to stay safer. - 12
Complete the sentence: Animals have different coverings because the coverings help them meet their needs. Give one example.
One example is that fish have scales to protect their bodies in water. Another example is that birds have feathers to stay warm and fly. - 13
A dog has fur, and a lizard has scales. How are their body coverings different?
Compare how the coverings might feel and what they do.
A dog's fur is soft and can help keep it warm. A lizard's scales are not furry and help protect its body. - 14
Circle the animals that have shells: turtle, robin, crab, horse. Then explain your choices.
The turtle and crab have shells. Their hard coverings help protect their bodies. - 15
Choose one animal covering: fur, feathers, scales, or shell. Write the name of one animal with that covering and explain how the covering helps it.
Use a real animal you know and tell what its body covering does.
Answers will vary. A correct answer should name an animal and explain how its covering helps it, such as a bird has feathers that help it fly and stay warm.