Alabama Learning Exchange
Vertebrates or Invertebrates
Examine the differences between vertebrates and invertebrates as learners conduct Internet research, take an online invertebrate quiz, complete a vertebrate fact sheet, print out pictures of invertebrates they find interesting, and...
Curated OER
Design a Deep- Sea Vertebrate or Invertebrate
Learners design a deep-sea animal. In this research based lesson, students research and design a vertebrate or invertebrate that lives in a methane hydrate habitat. They compile a class chart of the adaptations animals have in this...
Curated OER
Classifying Vertebrates
Second graders study animal characteristics and classification. In this animal characteristics and classifications activity, 2nd graders determine how to classify vertebrates which include mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish....
Curated OER
Invertebrate Research Project
Students keep a scientific research notebook on an invertebrate detailing its behavior and responses.
Curated OER
Through the Eyes of an Owl
Students describe vertebrates in terms of observable body parts and characteristics and describe life cycles of familiar organisms. They identify familiar organisms as part of a food chain or food web and describe their feeding...
Curated OER
Spineless - YES... Helpless - NO!
Students distinguish between invertebrate and vertebrate organisms while examining the zoological classes of a number of invertebrates. They illustrate a food web of these organisms and investigate the impact of humans on the oceanic...
Curated OER
Have a Backone
Students create a visual organizer that describes different groups of vertebrates in this pre-writing activity. They view and discuss a video on descriptive writing and then form small groups to research vertebrate classes using the...
Curated OER
What Lives In A Shell?
Second graders study the readily observable characteristics of marine invertebrates, 2nd graders research the invertebrates and complete worksheets in this series of lessons.
Curated OER
An Episode on Australian Animals
Fifth graders identify and analyze various ecological regions of Australia in order to identify more about some of the animals that inhabit the area. Students record information they discover on a chart provided that is assessed at end...
American Museum of Natural History
The Tree of Life
Groups of species can have more in common than meets the eye. An interactive cladogram shows some of the connections between important groups of species. Learners click on sections of the diagram to learn more about the connections or on...
Curated OER
The Marsh Land as a Changing Environment
Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...
Curated OER
Diversity of Life
Pupils explore the diversity of life forms and the role that interdependency plays in our world through a mult-segmented unit. This segment introduces the unit.
Curated OER
Experimentation with Teratogens on Zebrafish
Students compare mitosis and meiosis with regard to chromosome number in parent cells versus daughter cells, types of cells produced, total number of cells produced, and the number of divisions. In groups, identify and differentiate the...
Curated OER
EEEK! A Spider!
Youngsters complete a unit of lessons based on the story "Little Miss Muffet." They predict what will happen in the story, and use context clues to look for meaning in the words. They research information about spiders using the Internet...
Curated OER
Write a Description
Finding the central idea is the focus of this lesson. Middle schoolers write descriptions of different animals using details and descriptive language. They watch a video of kids using descriptive language, and then use showing language...
Curated OER
Wildlife Variety Show: Biodiversity In Illinois
Eighth graders write a short report in first person about any plant or animal found on a list of Illinois species. They become the character of the plant or animal and give a short report describing the plant or animal.
American Museum of Natural History
What's This? Leeches
Who actually likes leeches? Meet a scientist that makes his living letting leeches feed on him. Pupils learn about the characteristics of leeches and different variations of the species. The lesson works as a remote learning resource or...
Curated OER
Creating a Classification System
Students create classification system for Arctic-dwelling animals, the Arctic hare in particular.
Curated OER
Focus on Food Chains
Third graders collect and analyze data about food chains. They conduct Internet research about the habitat of a selected organism, write a narrative, and create a computer slideshow using Kid Pix computer software that illustrates the...
Curated OER
Create a Creature
Students design, build, draw, or bake a creature of their choice and present to the class. They write a paper including the creature's habitat, method of getting energy, their creature as a producer or consumer, predator or prey species...
Curated OER
4th Grade Life Science Unit: Animals
Fourth graders classify animals. In this animal kingdom lesson plan, 4th graders research animal habitats and behaviors. Students connect to a zoologist via SKYPE and learn about animal classification. Students blog about preserving...
Curated OER
Dinosaur Time Capsule
Third graders research prehistoric life using educational software. They design a prehistoric life while showing the use of appropriate scale and names for the prehistoric life. They follow an internet link to participate in a virtual...
Curated OER
Ocean Market
Middle schoolers identify some consumer goods that come from the ocean.
They classify these items into groups, identify their source, and calculate the cost of buying such goods.
Curated OER
The Crusty Fossils
Students identify some of the different species of crabs and tell how they adapt themselves to their environment. They discuss the evolution and stages of development of the crabs. They identify the Phylum Arthropoda and the Class...