This is an example of categorizing two animals and sorting them in a Venn diagram. It is aimed at year 3 students as per the Australian National Curriculum.

1. Categorising Animals
As you have seen, there are many
different features that we can
observe in our animals. Now we
know what to look for, we can
categorise animals by their
features and recognise patterns
and similarities between them.

2. Let’s start with a venn diagram.

3. Let’s start with a venn diagram.
Each circle represents an animal.

4. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog Duck

5. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog Duck
Has four legs

6. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog Duck
Has four legs
Has a backbone

7. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur

8. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies

9. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog Duck
Has four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat

10. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a dog?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air

11. Now, what are some of the features
of a duck?

12. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land

13. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land
Has two legs

14. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has a backbone
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has a backbone

15. Here we have found a common
feature; they both have backbones.

16. Here we have found a common
feature; they both have backbones.
In a venn diagram, we put any
common features in the section of
the diagram where the two circles
intersect.

17. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has a
backbone

18. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has feathers
Has a
backbone

19. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggsHas a
backbone

20. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Eats Meat
Breathes air
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Eats Meat
Has a
backbone

21. Here is another common feature.
Let’s place this in the intersection.

22. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Has a
backbone
Eats
meat

23. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Lives on land
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Has a
backbone
Eats
meat
Breathes
air

24. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Has a
backbone
Eats
meat
Breathes
air
Lives on
land

25. Let’s compare a dog and a duck.
What are some of the features
of a duck?
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Has wings
Has a
backbone
Eats
meat
Breathes
air
Lives on
land

26. Now we can see what differences and
similarities exist between a dog and a duck.
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Has wings
Has a
backbone
Eats
meat
Breathes
air
Lives on
land

27. Now we can see what differences and
similarities exist between a dog and a duck.
We have used data about these animals and
organised them so they can be compared.
Dog DuckHas four legs
Has fur
Gives birth to
living babies
Has two legs
Has feathers
Lays eggs
Has wings
Has a
backbone
Eats
meat
Breathes
air
Lives on
land

28. What other features could we have
included for dogs and ducks?