Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Vertebrates II Lesson PlanVertebrates II Lesson Plan
Publisher
NOAA
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Science
1 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
45 mins
Instructional Strategy
Direct Instruction
Technology
Presentation
Lesson Plan

Vertebrates II

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Vertebrates II lesson plan also includes:
  • Vertebrates II
  • Marine Mammals
  • Join to access all included materials

Mammals of the ocean unite! Or not. The 20th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program investigates how warm-blooded marine mammals survive in water. In the class activity, learners use dichotomous keys to separate out marine mammals for the purposes of identification.

35 Views 28 Downloads

Concepts

oceans, marine life, vertebrates, marine mammals, mammals, dichotomous keys, whales, baleen whales, seals, dolphins

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Have learners bring in seafood restaurant menus to research; they should be able to find and print one online if they do not have a hard copy

Classroom Considerations

  • It is helpful if learners have previously encountered dichotomous keys
  • The resource can be used as a stand-alone lesson or as a continuation of Vertebrates I

Pros

  • Resources includes an alternate activity that focuses on whales
  • Lectures notes provide information for teachers to help guide the lesson

Cons

  • None

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Vertebrates I

NOAA
I spy a spine. The 19th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program explores vertebrate species, such as sharks and other fish. Learners take part in an activity evaluating the...
9th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Marine Ecosystems

NOAA
Be at the top of the food chain when it comes to understanding marine ecosystems. The 21st installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program investigates marine ecosystems, ocean zones, and food...
9th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Turning the Tide on Trash: A Learning Guide on Marine Debris

NOAA
The lessons in this learning guide are designed to increase youngsters' awareness of the impacts of marine debris and to teach them about pollution prevention techniques. This fabulous, 30-page packet is chock full of important...
1st - 12th Science
Handout

Science Worksheets

CPO Science
If you need an array of worksheets to augment your science lessons, peruse a collection of assignments that is sure to fit your needs. With topics such as metric conversion, the scientific method, textbook features, research skills,...
8th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

The Origin of Mammal Movement: Harvard Adventures, Part I

The Brain Scoop
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...
5 mins 6th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

The Three Different Ways Mammals Give Birth

TED-Ed
All mammals have warm blood, are vertebrates, breathe with their lungs, have hair or fur on their bodies, and produce milk for their young. But not all mammals give birth to their young in the same manner. Watch a video that explains how...
5 mins 4th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

Vertebrate Circulatorium

Howard Hughes Medical Institute
When you get to the heart of the matter, you learn a lot about an organism by studying its circulatory system! A perfect resource for a zoology or anatomy class, the simulation gives users a peek inside a variety of vertebrates to...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

Extreme Mammals

American Museum of Natural History
Extreme characteristics can create some unusual mammals. Learners flip through a slide show of some of the most interesting mammals that are both living and extinct. Implement as a remote learning resource or use in-class to review...
6th - 12th Science
Unit Plan

Ga Virtual Learning: Marine Vertebrates

Georgia Department of Education
Learn about vertebrates found in the ocean, their individual methods of adaptations, identifying characteristics and contributions to the marine ecosystem.
9th - 10th Science
Activity

Mammal Flipbooks

American Museum of Natural History
Scholars follow eight steps to create a flipbook and discover key facts about mammals' locomotion.
6th - 12th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use