Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan

There are three separate lessons here based on questions.

Lesson Plan

There are three separate lessons here based on questions.A list of questions about the characteristics of annelids to use after viewing the video Annelids: Powerful and Capable Worms.A Shape of Life: Annelids worksheet. Students make sketches and write short answers to questions about the amazing world of annelids. This was created by Rachel Miller from Science From Scratch.A Powerpoint with question to use while watching the video Annelids: Powerful and Capable Worms.

Lesson Plan

Students explore the origins of muscles, nerves, and animal adaptions through of study of the fascinating phylum Cnidaria.

Lesson Plan

A list of questions with an emphasis on adaptations to use after viewing the video Annelids: Powerful and Capable Worms  

Lesson Plan

In this lesson students discuss the definition of an animal. What characteristics do all animals have in common? To introduce the subject the teacher gives a brief discussion of the five kingdoms (see reference below). What evidence is needed to decide that an organism is an animal? Students watch the video Sponges: Origins and reconsider the definition of an animal.

Lesson Plan

In this activity students explore how animals are classified. For centuries taxonomists have been classifying the diversity of animal life based on observations and measurements of animals’ body plans. And now, with DNA sequencing, scientists have for the most part confirmed the work of earlier taxonomists. Students will learn the characteristics that define five of the major invertebrate phyla by watching videos, reading and sorting animal cards. The phyla are: Cnidarians, Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs, and Echinoderms.

Lesson Plan

There are three separate lessons based on Questions.A list of questions about the characteristics of cnidarians to use after viewing the video Cnidarians:Life on the Move.A Shape of Life: Cnidarians worksheet. Students make sketches and write short answers to questions about the amazing world of cnidarians. This was created by Rachel Miller from Science from Scratch.A Powerpoint with questions to use while watching the video Cnidarians: Life on the Move.

Lesson Plan

Students explore the evolution of the phylum Chordata by constructing a "family tree" - a diagram of evolutionary traits and animals.

Lesson Plan

This lesson consists of a cross disciplinary activity incorporating aspects of wave characteristics from Physics, movement traits from Biology, and evaluating locomotion design from Engineering. Students can be introduced to the idea by showing the video Arthropod Locomotion: Engineering from the shapeoflife.org or other videos of animals that exhibit wave-like characteristics during motion. Class discussion can begin by analyzing the necessity to move efficiently and how moving in a wave-like manner could be beneficial.

Lesson Plan

There are three separate lessons here based on questions.A list of questions about the characteristics of chordates to use after viewing the video Chordates: We're All Family.A Shape of Life Chordata worksheet. Students make sketches and write short answers to questions about the amazing world of chordates. This was created by Rachel Miller from Science from Scratch.A Powerpoint with questions to use while watching the video Chordates: We're All Family.