Shape of Life provides free science resources for both students and teachers about the evolution of the animal kingdom. We offer short videos, lesson plans, features and news of animals on planet earth.

Phyla

The animal kingdom is one of six kingdoms of life on earth. Discover the greatest story ever told - the story of the animal kingdom and the eight major phyla that make up 99 percent of animals.

Image of Purple Sponge
Sponges
Image of an Anemone
Cnidarians
Image of a Flatworm
Flatworms
Image of an Annelid
Annelids
Image of Crab
Marine Arthropods
Image of Dragonfly
Terrestrial Arthropods
Image of Squid
Molluscs
Image of Starfish
Echinoderms
Image of Chimpanzee
Chordates

The Colorful World of Flatworms!

Creature

Marine Flatworms

Take a Closer Look at the Colorful Marine Flatworms

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Flatworms

Lesson Plan

Fantastic Flatworms

Students explore flatworm adaptations through short Shape of Life Videos and student-centered activities

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Fantastic Flatworms

Teacher

Aaron Lin, 7-year-old scientist & advocate

When we had our first request from a seven-year-old boy determined to save the planet one critter at a time, we had to give him a call and find out more.

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Scientist

Dr. James Hagadorn Paleontologist

Hagadorn studies ancient trackways of bygone worms in California's Inyo Mountains. Can these tiny tracks paint a portrait of the first animals to move in a forward direction?

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Did you Know?

The Super Power of Planarian Stem Cells

Believe it or not planarian flatworms are super-heroes. They can regenerate new heads, tails or their entire bodies thanks to all of pluripotent stem cells in their bodies

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Blog

Warning Coloration In Flatworms

Find out why we’re alarmed when we see brightly colored or contrasting colored animals.

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Resources

Children with pencils at desks in classroom
Lesson Plans
A hand holding a pencil
Factsheets
Open book on shelf
Readings