For Educators

The Kenneth E Behring Family Hall of Mammals website explores how all mammals, past and present, are related to each other by virtue of common descent. Visitors to the site will learn that, as mammals, they belong to an ancient lineage that stretches back to before the time of the dinosaurs. As living mammals, they share a set of characteristics that helps scientists define this group. Among the most important and obvious of these characteristics are:

the ability to control body temperature internally;
intensive care of infants, including feeding them with milk produced by the mother;
an external coat of hair or, occasionally, internal layer of fat that insulates the body;
a brain specialized in making connections to create complex messages.

Mammals are engaging subjects for many educational opportunities. The resources provided in this section are designed to support educators at all levels of knowledge about mammals and for any grade level of teaching. Of special note is a teacher’s guide that will help you prepare for a trip to the Kenneth E. Behring Hall of Mammals at the National Museum of Natural History.