Curated OER
Invertebrate Diversity
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...
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The Animal Body and How it Moves
Spark interest in the body structure of vertebrates with this comprehensive and colorful learning exercise. Your biology class will explore the levels of organization, primary tissue types, and the main organ systems. Finally, they hone...
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Animal Classification
Second graders identify characteristics of and group animals by the five categories of vertebrates.
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Life in a Forest Stream
Young scholars assess macro-invertebrates from a stream. In this science lesson plan, students observe, classify and identify organisms found in a stream. A lab station is constructed at the stream sight and young scholars study the...
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Which Animals are Invertebrates?
In this invertebrate worksheet, students will complete a chart for 6 different animals, deciding if that animal has a backbone or not and if it is a vertebrate or invertebrate.
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Life Has A History
In this biology worksheet, students identify and match various classes of species found today. Then they explain why biodiversity exists today on earth and define evolution. Students also describe who a paleontologist is and what they do.
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Animals, Soil, Trees
Fourth graders describe the various kinds of soils and how plants and animals are affected by them. They describe the baic needs of plants, scoring at least a 3 or 4 on a 4-point rubic. Students are able to predict and/or infer what...
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Through the Eyes of an Owl
Learners describe vertebrates in terms of observable body parts and characteristics and describe life cycles of familiar organisms. They identify familiar organisms as part of a food chain or food web and describe their feeding...
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Vertebrate Dioramas
Students are able to describe the development of their chosen form of vertebrate life from the past to the present in a four to six page typed paper. They explain the use of phylogenetic tree. Students use the phylogenetic tree to...
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Vertebrate Classification Challenge
Students determine which animals belong to the vertebrate phyla. In this classification lesson, students are given large papers with the names of the phyla of vertebrates. They must work together to place organisms into their correct...
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Creatures of the Grand Canyon
In this word search puzzle worksheet, students find and circle all of the wildlife hidden in a word search puzzle. Students also classify the animals into groups of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, or amphibians.
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Vertebrate Skeletons
In this biology worksheet, students examine the human skeleton and then classify animal bones according to their similar function.
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Classify That!
Students explore diverse forms of life by using modern biological classification systems to group animals that are related. Students then study basic scientific groupings like genus, species, mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and...
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Invertebrates and Vertebrate Evolution
Learners explore the major characteristics of the major animal phyla. They describe adaptive features that have contributed to the success of animals on land. Students explain how primate evolution provides a context for understanding...
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Jurassic Park Debate
Students research behavior, phsyiology, and ecology of dinoaurs. Students role-play as scientific specialists such as geneticists and ecologists. They present their research findings in a research paper.
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What is an Animal Reading?
Students read an article out of their science book. In this vertebrates and invertebrates lesson plan students complete a worksheet and answer questions after reading.
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Nervous System
In this nervous system worksheet, students identify and locate each of the vocabulary terms related to the nervous system in the word search. There are 15 biology terms to locate in the puzzle.
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Adopt-An-Insect Bingo
In this biology instructional activity, students select twenty-five terms relating to insects to complete their bingo card as listed on the sheet. Then they match each name or family with its correct description.
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Comparative Embryological Study of
Students complete two labs. They observe the fertilization and development of sea urchin and zebrafish embryos. They examine the similarities and differences in the development of an invertebrate vs. a vertebrate animal.
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Diversity of Life
Students explore the diversity of life forms and the role that interdependency plays in our world through a mult-segmented unit. This segment introduces the unit.
Yale University
Yale Peabody Museum
This home page describes what the museum has to offer. Links to the exhibits and more information is provided at the bottom of the site.
University of Florida
Fmnh: Vertebrate Paleontology
Has a large group of vertebrate fossil pictures, a guide on preparing fossils, and much more.
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Vertebrate
Explains the features of animals defined as vertebrates, how they evolved, and their taxonomy. (Published: April 29, 2010)
Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Evolutionary Biology: Mammal
Article explaining the basic characteristics of mammals, their diet, reproduction, behavior, conservation concerns, taxonomy, and their evolution. (Published: September 23, 2010)