Marine Invertebrate Lesson Plans

Students study and research marine invertebrates.  In this marine instructional activity students create an illustrated report and help complete a class exhibit. 

Students research a marine invertebrate and create an illustrated report to contribute to a classroom exhibit. They write a brief report about their invertebrate and create a colorful illustration, painting, or 3-D model.

Students study the rocks and fossils associated with the geologic landscape of Iowa. In this rocks and fossils lesson plan, students examine fossils that would be found in the Iowa landscape that show evidence of marine invertebrates such as crinoids. They look at the Iowa state rock; the geode and make their own fossils.

Students examine active chemicals that are in marine invertebrates and how they act to fight diseases.  In this marine lesson students identify three pharmacologically-active chemicals, describe their disease fighting action and infer why sessile marine invertebrates appear to be a promising new source of drugs.

Students develop a Taxonomic Key for marine invertebrates from pictures they are given after practicing together with common objects, such as shoes. They then compare their key to a provided Ocean Invertebrates Taxonomic Key.

Students monitor the abundance of organisms in photograph quadrats. In this environmental monitoring lesson, students view pictures of rocky intertidal and subtidal marine zones and discuss the importance of monitoring organism abundance. They use life-sized photographs of marine quadrats to count and determine the relative abundance of organisms.

Students explain the concept of gene sequence analysis. In this gene lesson, students draw inferences about phylogenetic similarities of different organisms.

Students find similarities and differences between a biotrope habitat and an ecosystem.  In this hardbottom biotrope lesson, students research and respond to inquiry questions about a biotrope.  Students identify three biotropes in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Students create model coral reefs showing surface area and including examples of communities.  In this coral reef lesson, students research and explore the functions or benefits from a coral reef.  Students design a benthic habitat. Students calculate the surface area of various shapes.  Students will create a habitat that shows 400cm squared.

Investigate the coral reefs around Mokolai Island, Hawaii by researching and writing about improving the reef ecosystem.  Students map threats to the ecosystem and use the list of key words to assist in their descriptions