Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan

A brief hands-on investigation of Class Gastropoda (snails and slugs), followed by a critical thinking exercise centered on segments of the Shape of Life. Students first examine the bodies and behavior of live slugs or snails, then use water balloons to model their unique style of locomotion, and finally tackle a series of analytical questions designed to cultivate a grasp of divergent evolution: the branching of a single ancestral form into multiple new forms for diverse new functions, niches, and habitats.

Lesson Plan

A list of questions about the characteristics of Molluscs to use after viewing the video Molluscs: the Survival Game.

Lesson Plan

Students answer questions based on the video Chordates: We’re All Family.

Lesson Plan

In this lesson students make a guess as to what was the first animal. The class watches the Sponge video from the shapeoflife.org and writes down what evidence they saw that sponges were the first animals. Then the class discusses what evidence they need to figure out what might have been the first animal. They watch the scientist video “Mitchell Sogin, Evolutionary Biologist: Proof of the First Animal” and write down the evidence that is presented for the sponge being the first animal.

Lesson Plan

Antoni Gaudi, the famous Spanish architect, found his inspirations from nature. From trees to light to whale bones, Gaudi used solutions from nature for structural support or decoration. He is not unique in using natural engineering to solve problems in our daily lives. In this lesson, we will investigate how, through the process of evolution, animals have solved their engineering problems and how people have mimicked those natural solutions.

Lesson Plan

After note taking during the phyla episodes of the shapeoflife.org, student pairs will randomly pick an invertebrate from the hat. After doing more in-depth research on their chosen invertebrate, student pairs will design and create a flyer that will promote the invertebrate’s special abilities. Furthermore, the students will find at least one video clip of their invertebrate from the shapeoflife.org website to present to the class as evidence of their claims. Finally the student pair will argue why their invertebrate should be crowned the “World’s Most Awesome Invertebrate.”

Lesson Plan

In this lesson students engage in the practice of science by observing behaviors using Shape of Life videos with the audio and closed captioning turned off.

Lesson Plan

A list of questions about the characteristics of terrestrial arthropods to use after viewing the video Terrestrial Arthropods: The Conquerors.A Powerpoint with questions to answer while watching the video Terrestrial Arthropods: The Conquerors.

Lesson Plan

A list of questions about the characteristics of marine arthropods to use after viewing the video Marine Arthropods: A Successful Design.A Powerpoint with questions to answer while wathing the video Marine Arthropods: A Sucessful Design. 

Lesson Plan

A list of questions about the characteristics of annelids to use after viewing the video Annelids: Powerful and Capable Worms.Shape of Life Annelida Worksheet. Students make sketches and write short answers about the amazing world of annelids.A Powerpoint with questions to answer while watching the video Annelids: Powerful and Capable Worms.