Mythical Creatures and How to Make Them
| Suitable for | Curriculum Point |
|---|---|
| Year 4 | recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways |
| Year 6 | living things and their habitats; classification |
This video follows Carl Linnaeus as he travels to Germany to see a specimen that is said to be a Hydra; a many-headed serpent! The content lends itself well to discussions around mythical animals and the problems we would have if we try to classify what kind of animal they are.
Below we provide a full transcript of the video, a supporting worksheet and follow on questions for your class.
Questions to follow up with
The Hydra, Phoenix and Dragon are all mythical creatures. Why can't they exist in real life?
The Hydra has multiple heads, a phoenix is reincarnated in fire, and a dragon is a huge flying lizard, which might not be impossible, but breathing fire probably is.
What differences do these mythical creatures have?
Dragon and Hydra are scaly reptiles while the Phoenix is a feathery bird; plus the Phoenix and Dragon can fly, while the Hydra can't. Depending on your belief systems around dragons and hydras, they might be cold blooded, or they might not.
What similarities do these mythical creatures have?
They all have backbones, they all have two eyes (per head)
Why is a bat considered a mammal and not a bird?
Bats give birth to live young, not eggs; bat-wings are not their arms, but their hands
The Panther, Lion and Tiger can all be grouped together as members of the cat Family (Felidae). Can you name some members of the bear Family (Ursidae)?
Brown/Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Polar Bear, Giant Panda, Sloth Bear