Instructional Video

The Origin of Mammal Movement: Harvard Adventures, Part I

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

It may be difficult for some humans to walk and chew gum at the same time ... but reptiles can't breathe while running at all! Compare the skeletal systems of reptiles and mammals in the first installment of Brain Scoop's fossils and geology series. The narrator describes the methods used to determine how ancient animals moved, as well as the genes responsible for creating the body plan of a developing organism.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Include the video in an evolution or animal anatomy unit
  • Show examples of other animal body plans, then have students relate them to how their structures helped the organisms be successful in their environments
Classroom Considerations
  • Spend some time with younger learners discussing how genes control development, as well as skeletal system components, prior to watching the video
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Resource is full of thoughtful examples that help illustrate the physical differences between mammals and reptiles
  • Narrator very clearly explains the genetic aspect of mammalian evolution using student-friendly terms
Cons
  • None
Common Core