Animal Groups and Phyla

A phylum is the next category beneath kingdom.  Most biology textbooks are organized by phyla with chapters covering topics such as “reptiles” or “mammals”.  This collection includes various worksheets related to animal groups.

Introductory

tortoise

Slides and Overview of the Animal Kingdom

Animal Symmetry –   identify types of symmetry
Animal Phyla Matching – match the phylum to pictures and descriptions
Characteristics of Life – make a concept map

Kingdom Protista

Slides and Overview of the Kingdom Protista

Ameba Coloring – color the structures of an ameba; pseudopodia, vacuole, nucleus..
Paramecium Coloring – color paramecium, vacuole, mouth pore, macronucleus, cilia..
Euglena Coloring – color euglena; flagella, chloroplast, pellicle…
Kingdom Protista Concept Map – organize the types of protists by characteristic
Protista Crossword – vocabulary; vacuole, paramecium, algae, malaria..etc
Protozoa – article with questions

Ameba & Paramecium Lab – view both specimens, compare and draw
Ameba & Paramecium Virtual Lab – use image sets on Flickr to view specimens
Ameba Lab  – 15 minute lab, observe the movements of the ameba
Algae Lab – compare 3 types of algae:  volvox, spirogyra, and euglena

Biodiversity of Ponds – sample pond water, identify organisms (protists, arthropods, macroinvertebrates)

Phylum Porifera & Phylum Cnidaria

Sponge Anatomy  – sponge  image; students label amebocytes, collar cells, spicules…
Sponge Coloring  – another anatomy page, color the structures
Hydra Anatomy – hydra image; students label tentacles, cnidocytes, buds…

Hydra Lab – view a living hydra and observe its behavior
Hydra and Other Cnidarians – article with questions

Slides and Overview of Sponges and Cnidarians

Phylum Platyhelminthes & Nematoda

Slides and Overview of Flatworms

Observation of a Planarian – view a live planarian and observe regeneration
Simple Worms Lab – microscopic observations of rotifers, nematodes, schistosomes, and tapeworms
Planaria Article – description of a planaria, with questions

Phylum Mollusca

Slides and Overview of Mollusks – Discusses characteristics of mollusks, types of mollusks

Squid Dissection – external and internal structures, using real squids
Virtual Squid – online dissection photos for students to view, labeling and questions, makeup lab
Mollusk Chart – compares cephalopods, gastropods, and bivalves

Phylum Annelida

Slides and Overview of Annelids and Segmented Worms

Observation of a Live Earthworm – test an earthworm’s response to light/dark, warm/cold
Earthworm Dissection – view the digestive, circulatory, and nervous system of a preserved earthworm
Earthworm Labeling – practice labeling the organs of an earthworm
Mollusk and Annelid Crossword Puzzle – basic terms and classification

Phylum Arthropoda

Slides and Overview of Arthropods

Arthropod Poetry – short riddles (poems) where students have to guess the associated vocab
Arthropod Chart – students complete a chart outlining the characteristics of arthropod subphyla
Arthropod Coloring – color and label the parts of various arthropods
Daphnia Heart Rate – experiment requires live daphnia, exposed to ethanol and measure the heart rate
Cicada Summer – observations and research on local cicadas, student design either real or virtual exhibit of a cicada species; only applicable during certain times of year
Insect Web Quest – students create a website that showcases 3 species of insects
Crayfish External Anatomy
Crayfish Internal Anatomy



Phylum Echinodermata

Article on Starfish

 Starfish Labeling

Phylum Chordata

Chordates and Vertebrates – notes and Google Slides

Anatomy of a Chordate – a simple diagram showing a lancelet and its anatomy

Construct a Chordate Cladogram – use Google Slides to learn how to interpret and build cladograms
How Does a Cladogram Reveal Evolutionary Relationships

trout

Fish: Form and Function – Google Slides and Student Notes

Fish Temperature Lab – investigate how the respiration rate of a fish changes with temperate; graphing
Fish Temperature Make-up Lab – same as above, online version for students not in class
Observation of a Living Fish – simple lab where students observe a fish in a bea ker
Anatomy of a Bony Fish – color the structures of a fish, showing fins and internal anatomy

Amniote Egg Coloring – learn egg structures; yolk, allantois, amnion, chorion
Reptiles Crossword Puzzle – a simple vocabulary exercise focusing on reptiles and their classification

frog

Amphibians – Form, Function, and Classification – notes and Google slides

Observation of a Living Frog – a list of tasks and experiments to perform a live frog (toad), the frog is not injured or dissected

Complete Frog Dissection Packet – handout for students that includes the external and internal anatomy, brain, and leg bones. Includes a list of terms to study for lab practical.

Birds – Form, Function, and Classification – notes and Google slides
Comparing a Human and Avian Skeleton – coloring and bone identification
Bird Beaks and Feet – view pictures of birds, make inferences about their diet and habitat, includes ppt
Birds and Reptiles Crossword Puzzle – using terms and vocabulary related to the reptile and birds
Animal Reproduction and the Amniote Egg  – color the amniote egg and identify the main structures; compare to human reproduction

Mammal Crossword Puzzle – focus on the major orders of mammals and their characteristics

Google Slides and Notes on Reptiles

Animal Report – diagram to record information about a specific animal (research)
Mammal Chart – fill in a chart on the mammal orders;  write descriptions and relatives

Animal Anatomy and Dissection Worksheets – resources for a variety of specimens studied in a basic biology class (frog, rat, bullfrog, squid)

Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior – Slides and Notes Outline

Territorial Behavior in Crickets – mark and observe crickets as they interact with each other
Isopod Behavior Lab  (with lab report) –  AP Lab 11 modified experiments with pill bugs