Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand the classification of whippets and their place in the animal kingdom.

Materials and Prep

• Computer or tablet with internet access
• Pen and paper
• Whippet classification chart (can be found online)

Activities

1. Research Whippets

   Using the internet, research information about whippets, their physical characteristics, and their behavior. Take notes on their unique features and any interesting facts you come across.

2. Create a Whippet Classification Chart

   Using the information gathered from your research, create a classification chart for whippets. Include their kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Make sure to label each category and provide a brief description of what it represents.

3. Compare Whippets to Other Animals

   Choose two other animals that belong to the same classification categories as whippets and compare their physical characteristics and behaviors to those of whippets. Write a short paragraph for each animal, highlighting their similarities and differences with whippets.

Australia: Year 7 Talking Points

• "Whippets belong to the animal kingdom, which is the highest level of classification for living organisms."
• "Within the animal kingdom, whippets fall under the phylum Chordata, which includes animals with a notochord or spinal cord."
• "Whippets are classified as mammals, which means they are warm-blooded, have hair or fur, and give birth to live young."
• "In terms of order, whippets belong to the order Carnivora, which includes animals that primarily eat meat."
• "Within the order Carnivora, whippets are part of the family Canidae, which includes other dog-like animals such as wolves and foxes."
• "The genus and species name for whippets is Canis lupus familiaris, which is the same as domestic dogs."