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
Classifying Vertebrates
Second graders study animal characteristics and classification. In this animal characteristics and classifications instructional activity, 2nd graders determine how to classify vertebrates which include mammals, reptiles, amphibians,...
Curated OER
Researching Vertebrates
Fifth graders research and present a paper about vertebrates. In this research and writing lesson, 5th graders research information about vertebrates which they include in a paper and presentation. They determine how to present relevant...
Curated OER
Design a Deep- Sea Vertebrate or Invertebrate
Students design a deep-sea animal. For 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
Through the Eyes of an Owl
Learners 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
Vertebrate Dioramas
Students describe the development of their chosen form of vertebrate life from the past to the present in a four to six page paper. They explain the use of a phylogenetic tree, and use this to exemplify an organism's evolutionary change...
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...
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
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
The Envelope Please
Students examine and research the importance and functions of the skeletal system in vertebrates. They construct a 10-foot geodesic dome to illustrate the importance of architectural frameworks and create a clay animation movie.
Curated OER
The Froggy Page
Students investigate the cycle of life by observing tadpoles. In this biology lesson, students utilize the Internet to read stories, observe pictures, and listen to sounds of frogs. Students create a poster board collage using frog...
Curated OER
Raising Trout
Students investigate the life cycles of fish as they observe a trout's life in class. In this fish life instructional activity, students create a proper habitat in a fish tank for the trout eggs to spawn and thrive for several weeks....
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 activity. 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
The Animals Kingdom
Students are introduced to the classification system of animals. In groups, they set up an aquarium in which they must maintain throughout the year. They also observe earthworms and how they react to various stimuli and research the...
University of Kentucky
The Great Spider Debate
Poor, misunderstood spiders! They are feared, disrespected, and detested by many people, yet they do so many positive things. A great addition to any insect unit, learn about some of the more common spiders, while hopefully dispelling...
Curated OER
Be Brain Smart
Students examine the function of the brain. Using the internet, they research facts of the brains of vertebrates. Using clay, they make three sculptures of brains of different vertebrates and use crayola colors to color it. To end the...
Curated OER
What's the Difference?
Students analyze the similarities in different species. This activity is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life. In this segment, students classify shoes to mimic the scientific categories of the classification system.
Curated OER
Mammal Anatomy Learning Cycle Lesson Plan
Ninth graders explore the anatomical and physiological structure of mammals and compare the different structures.
Curated OER
4th Grade Life Science Unit: Animals
Fourth graders classify animals. In this animal kingdom instructional activity, 4th graders research animal habitats and behaviors. Students connect to a zoologist via SKYPE and learn about animal classification. Students blog about...
Curated OER
Dinosaurs Here Yesterday Gone Today
Students take a pre-test to show their prior knowledge of dinosaurs. Using the internet, they reasearch the time period in which they roamed the Earth. Focusing on the area of Connecticut, they compare and contrast the large and small...
Curated OER
First Grade Goes to the Zoo
First graders summarize their trip to the zoo. In this summarizing lesson plan, 1st graders will study animals that they may see at the zoo including their characteristics and habitats. Once the trip is done, they create a word document...
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
Animal Diversity
Students explore biology by completing science worksheets in class. In this animal anatomy instructional activity, students read the book The Adventures of Marco and Polo and identify the animals mentioned in it. Students examine a real...