Invertebrates Teacher Resources

As you work through the biological hierarchy, visit several phyla within the animal kingdom. This PowerPoint introduces viewers to characteristics and reproduction in sponges, cnidarian, flatworms, and roundworms. Make sure to add the...

In this sponges, cnidarians and worms worksheet, students complete a concept map on simple invertebrates. They fill in 11 blanks with the correct answers from the list.

They may not look like it, but sponges are living, breathing creatures! A PowerPoint presentation explains the important characteristics of the invertebrate Phylum Porifera, or more commonly known as the sponges. From their body...

Students investigate the invertebrate sponge. In this invertebrates lesson plan, students observe the sponge, Grantia, using a dissecting microscope. Students answer questions about their observations and view six other invertebrates....

Comparative anatomy prevails in the lesson exploring diversity among invertebrates. Biologists examine physical characteristics of an earthworm from phylum annelida and a meal worm from phylum insecta. They also inspect a cricket and a...

Cnidaria is a broad phylum of 11,000 different species from jellyfish to coral. Most Cnidarians are marine species with a few freshwater examples. A lesson presentation explains the important characteristics of different species of...

What better way for young biologists to learn about invertebrates than by creating their very own? Here, students are assigned a set of invertebrate characteristics and are asked to invent an imaginary ocean animal...

Spine or no spine? Vertebrate or invertebrate? Learners sort and classify a list of animals as vertebrates or invertebrates into a graphic organizer.

Of all invertebrates, insects by far are the most numerous. Scholars discuss invertebrates and then use a key to classify them. They see different examples and must describe features of each organism based upon the key. 

How many different invertebrates can you name? A thorough presentation describes the eight different Phyla of invertebrates. Each slide gives a quick overview of the important physical characteristics of each of the Phyla.

A pencil turned upside down is still a pencil, but a sea anemone turned upside down transforms into a jellyfish. Viewers observe the evolutionary transformation of these cnidarians as they diverged into two distinct body shapes, the...

Sponges filter many times their body volumes in water every hour with no breaks. Viewers find themselves being swept inside a sponge to observe the filtering process from the inside. They view the canals, the feeding cells, the spicules,...

Scientists know of almost 10,000 different species of sponges. Listen to a passionate female scientists describe her work as a taxonomist for sponges. She demonstrates an experiment in the ocean off Indonesia and shares her passion for...

Insects, and other invertebrates outnumber vertebrates—segmented-legs down! The first in a five-part series of videos from an Invertebrates series introduces these organisms in all their spineless glory. Each invertebrate phyla takes the...

It's time to mix things up! Introduce biology scholars to the latest topic in marine research—invertebrates! The third installment in a five-part series of Invertebrates lessons explains the hypothesis that tiny, migrating shrimp are...

Invertebrates play a prominent role in many myths across cultures. From Greece to Guatemala, see if you can identify the invertebrate of importance. Ten multiple-choice questions test your knowledge of mythology from around the world.

In this simple animals worksheet, learners read information about sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, and roundworms and then complete a chart comparing and contrasting these groups of animals. This worksheet has 11 fill in the blank questions.

When broken down to a cellular level, sponges reassemble themselves. As the only known plant or animal with this behavior, scientists enjoy watching the process. Scholars view the rebuilding to gain a better understanding of sponges in...

Many people think of sponges as being soft, but that's not the case in the ocean. Viewers learn about the sponge skeleton made of hard crystal material. They observe the many unique shapes and understand how scientists use these shapes...