Key Ideas
Level 1

• The Permian Period was a time long before dinosaurs.
• Many different kinds of animals lived during the Permian.
• Some animals had backbones, and some did not.
• A backbone helps support an animal’s body.
• Animals with backbones are called vertebrates.
• Animals without backbones are called invertebrates.
• Scientists group animals by how their bodies are built.

Level 2

• The Permian Period lasted from about 299 to 252 million years ago.
• Scientists classify animals by shared physical traits.
• One major trait is the presence or absence of a backbone.
• Vertebrates have internal skeletons that support body weight and movement.
• Invertebrates lack backbones and rely on other structures for support.
• During the Permian, both vertebrates and invertebrates filled important ecological roles.
• Body structure influenced how animals moved, fed, and survived in Permian environments.

Schedule

Day One	Day Two	Day Three	Day Four
Main Lesson and/or Story	Spine Reading	Literature Extension	Extension Videos or Books
Hands On Activity	Art Extension		Try something for "Other Activities"
Narration Page Coloring Page	Notetaking Extension Choose a picture from the chapter and give 3 key words. Ask them to guess which picture.	ELA: Sentence Expansion	ELA Page: Choose Another One

Hands-On Activity
Playdough Creatures

Materials

• Playdough or modeling clay
• Pipe cleaners
• Small stackable items (coins, blocks, washers, stones, or similar)
• Flat surface

Timeline Entries
c. 299–252 million years ago
Permian Period
Earth is home to a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, living on land and in the seas.


Discussion Questions
Level 1

1. What is the Permian Period?
   A long time ago when many kinds of animals lived on Earth.
2. What is a backbone?
   A structure inside the body that helps support it.
3. What is a vertebrate?
   An animal with a backbone.
4. What is an invertebrate?
   An animal without a backbone.
5. Why do scientists group animals by body traits?
   To understand how animals are alike and different.

Level 2 

1. Why is having a backbone helpful for animals living on land?
   It helps support body weight and allows stronger movement.
2. How did vertebrates and invertebrates differ during the Permian?
   Vertebrates had internal skeletons, while invertebrates used other support systems.
3. Does not having a backbone mean an animal is less successful? Why or why not?
   No. Invertebrates survived using different strategies suited to their environments.
4. Why is body structure important for classification?
   Because it affects how animals move, grow, and survive.
5. How can studying Permian animals help scientists understand life today?
   It shows how body plans evolved and persisted over time.