Jonathan is beginning to learn the animal taxonomy of animals. We have discussed how all animals are first divided by Kingdom because the other great kingdom is plants. He has learned the word Phylum. Jonathan learned that the reptiles he is studying today belong to the animal kingdom and the Chordata Phylum. He understands that Chordata relates to having a backbone. Jonathan drew the animals in their habitat while we discussed the distinguising characteristics. Jonathan took special note of characteristics that were new to him. For example, Jonathan learned that the iguana and the bird have a "third eye" called the parietal eye. This eye helps the animal know when a predator is near and that it may be flying or moving above them. Jonathan learned that the salamandar starts its life out with lungs when it lives in the water, but later when it is no longer a tadpole, the lungs disappear and the skin of the salamandar and the inside of the mouth both serve as a way to breathe in oxygen. Jonathan learned that the iguanas fall out of trees when they are cold because they go into a dormant state when they cannot keep up their internal temperature. The iguana is extremely threatened by the hawk and will fall into its dormant state if it sees a hawk. Jonathan studied the hellbender and found out it could be a pet for 30 to 50 years. He studied the sea turtles and drew a loggerhead sea turtle. Jonathan learned the word carapace to understand that this is the backbone of the turtle. Jonathan is moving on to exotic animals and has now drawn the Giant Panda Bear. He found out that the Panda Bear can eat small animals, but does love to eat bamboo. The Panda Bear eats so much bamboo that to get enough, it has to eat all day long. Jonathan has discussed the eating habits of each animal and the locations of where these animals are found throughout the lesson.