Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the difference between vertebrate and invertebrate animals: Students should be able to identify the main characteristics that differentiate these two groups of animals. This includes the presence or absence of a backbone, body structure, and organization of internal systems.

2. Classify animals as vertebrates or invertebrates: By the end of this lesson, students should be able to classify different species of animals based on their characteristics and correctly assign them to the groups of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

3. Know real examples of animals from each group: Students should be able to cite examples of animals that fit into each category. This will help solidify their understanding of the distinct characteristics of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

Secondary Objectives

• Develop research and presentation skills: During the learning process, students will be encouraged to conduct independent research to find examples of vertebrate and invertebrate animals. They will also have the opportunity to present their findings to the class, thus developing research and presentation skills.

• Stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving: By classifying different animals, students will be challenged to think critically about the unique characteristics of each species. This will help develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous content: The teacher should start the lesson by briefly reviewing the content that has been studied previously and is necessary for understanding the topic of the lesson. This may include a review of the definition of an animal, the classification of animals into kingdoms, and the introduction to how animals are grouped based on their common characteristics.

2. Problem situations: The teacher can then introduce two problem situations that will stimulate the curiosity of the students and prepare them for the content of the lesson.

   • The first situation could be: 'Why do we have so many different types of animals in the world? How do we classify them?'
   • The second situation could be: 'Did you know that not all animals have a backbone? What are the differences between these two types of animals?'

3. Contextualization: The teacher should then contextualize the importance of the theme, explaining that the classification of animals is fundamental to understanding the biodiversity of our planet. This can be done by highlighting the importance of preserving species and ecosystems, and how the classification of animals helps us better understand how they are interconnected.

4. Capturing students' attention: To capture the students' attention, the teacher can share some curiosities about vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

   • One curiosity could be: 'Did you know that spiders, despite being invertebrates, have an internal 'skeleton' called an exoskeleton?'
   • Another curiosity could be: 'Did you know that all vertebrates have an organ called a heart, but not all invertebrates have a heart?'

This Introduction should help spark students' interest in the lesson topic and prepare them for the content that will be presented.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 1 - 'Classifying Machine' (10 - 12 minutes): The teacher should divide the class into groups of five and provide each group with a variety of images of animals (drawings, photos, or magazine cutouts). The students should then classify the animals into two large groups: vertebrates and invertebrates. They should justify their classifications based on the visible characteristics of the animals in the images (e.g., the presence or absence of a backbone, body type, etc.).

   • Step 1: Distribute the animal images to each group.
   • Step 2: Groups should discuss and classify the animals as vertebrates or invertebrates.
   • Step 3: Each group should present their classifications and justifications to the class.
   • Step 4: The teacher should provide feedback and clarify any misconceptions.

2. Activity 2 - 'Classifying Card Game' (10 - 12 minutes): For this activity, the teacher should prepare a set of cards in advance, each representing a real animal. The cards should contain information about the characteristics of the animal, such as the presence or absence of a backbone, body type, etc. The students should then, in their groups, classify the animals on the cards as vertebrates or invertebrates.

   • Step 1: Distribute the animal cards to each group.
   • Step 2: Groups should discuss and classify the animals on the cards.
   • Step 3: Each group should present their classifications and justifications to the class.
   • Step 4: The teacher should provide feedback and clarify any misconceptions.

3. Activity 3 - 'Debates' (5 - 7 minutes): To conclude the Development stage, the teacher should propose a debate among the groups. Each group should defend their point of view on the classification of a specific animal that was discussed in the previous activities. This will allow students to practice their argumentation skills and understanding of the topic.

   • Step 1: Propose an animal for each group to defend its classification.
   • Step 2: Groups should prepare their arguments.
   • Step 3: Conduct the debate.
   • Step 4: The teacher should provide feedback and clarify any misconceptions.

These playful and interactive activities should help students better understand the differences between vertebrate and invertebrate animals and classify them correctly based on their characteristics.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes): The teacher should facilitate a group discussion with all students, where each group will have up to 2 minutes to share their solutions or conclusions from the practical activities. The teacher should encourage students to express their opinions and ideas, promoting an environment of respect and collaboration. During the presentations, the teacher should ask questions to stimulate students' reflection and to clarify any misconceptions that may have arisen.

   • Step 1: Invite each group to share their solutions or conclusions.
   • Step 2: Ask questions to stimulate reflection and clarify misconceptions.

2. Connection to Theory (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should then bridge the gap between practical activities and theory. This can be done by highlighting the main ideas or concepts that were explored during the activities and how they relate to the definition and classification of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

   • Step 1: Recap the main concepts or ideas explored during the activities.
   • Step 2: Discuss how these concepts relate to the theory of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

3. Final Reflection (2 - 3 minutes): To conclude the lesson, the teacher should propose that students reflect for a minute on the following questions:

   1. 'What was the most important concept learned today?'
   2. 'What questions have not been answered yet?'

   After the minute of reflection, the teacher should ask some students to share their answers with the class. This will allow the teacher to assess what the students have learned and any gaps in understanding that need to be addressed in future lessons.

   • Step 1: Propose reflection questions.
   • Step 2: Give a minute for students to reflect.
   • Step 3: Invite some students to share their answers.

4. Lesson Closure (1 minute): The teacher should end the lesson by thanking the students for their participation and reinforcing the importance of what was learned. The teacher should also take this opportunity to make any necessary announcements about future lessons or homework.

   • Step 1: Thank the students for their participation.
   • Step 2: Reinforce the importance of what was learned.
   • Step 3: Make any necessary announcements.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of Contents (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should start the Conclusion by summarizing the main points covered during the lesson. This includes the definition of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, their distinct characteristics, and real examples of each group. The teacher should emphasize the importance of understanding and being able to classify animals correctly, as this is fundamental for the study of biology and the understanding of biodiversity.

   • Step 1: Recap the definition and characteristics of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.
   • Step 2: Recall examples of animals from each group.
   • Step 3: Explain the importance of animal classification.

2. Connection of Theory to Practice (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should then explain how the lesson connected theory to practice. This may include discussing how the activities carried out during the lesson helped students apply and deepen their understanding of the presented theoretical concepts.

   • Step 1: Explain how practical activities connected to theory.
   • Step 2: Highlight the importance of practical learning.

3. Extra Materials (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge on the subject. This may include books, articles, documentaries, educational websites, among others. The teacher should encourage students to explore these materials autonomously, emphasizing the importance of research and self-directed study for learning.

   • Step 1: Suggest extra materials for autonomous study.
   • Step 2: Explain the importance of research and self-directed study.

4. Relevance of the Subject (1 minute): Finally, the teacher should reinforce the relevance of the subject presented for students' daily lives. This can be done by explaining how the study of animal classification helps to better understand the natural world and the importance of biodiversity for life on the planet.

   • Step 1: Explain the relevance of the subject for daily life.
   • Step 2: Summarize the importance of biodiversity.

This Conclusion should help consolidate the knowledge acquired by students during the lesson and motivate them to continue exploring the subject autonomously.