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

tortoiseAnimal Symmetry –   identify types of symmetry
Animal Kingdom Survey Lab – introductory lab, specimens
Animal Phyla Matching – match the phylum to pictures and descriptions
Characteristics of Life – make a concept map
Notes:  Introduction to the Animal Kingdom
Intro Animals powerpoint 

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 ofn 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..ect)
Notes on ProtistsPowerpoint on Protists 

Phylum Porifera & Phylum Cnidaria

Simple Animals – a simple matching exercise, classify porifera, cnidaria, platyhelminthes, and nematoda

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
Powerpoint on Sponges and Cnidarians (Coelenterates)

Phylum Platyhelminthes & Nematoda

Observation of a Planarian – view a live planarian and observe regeneration
Simple Worms Lab – microscopic observations of rotifers, nematodes, schistosomes, and tapeworms

Flatworms and  Roundworms  
Planaria Article – description of a planaria, with questions

Phylum Mollusca

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, gastroods, and bivalves

Phylum Mollusca Powerpoint – Discusses characteristics of mollusks, types of mollusks

Phylum Annelida

Observation of a Live Earthworm – test an earthworm’s response to light/dark, warm/cold..etc
Earthworm Dissection – view the digestive, circulatory, and nervous system of a preserved earthworm
Earthworm Labeling – practice labeling the organs of an earthworm
Earthworm Virtual Lab – visit a website on earthworms and answer questions, can be used as a makeup lab
Mollusk and Annelid Crossword Puzzle – basic terms and classification
Phylum Annelida Powerpoint

Phylum Arthropoda

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
Arthropods

Phylum Echinodermata

Article on StarfishStarfish Labeling

Phylum Chordata

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 beaker
Amniote Egg Coloring – learn egg structures; yolk, allantois, amnion, chorion
Reptiles Crossword Puzzle – this one focuses on the class reptilia and its four orders
Observation of a Living Frog – a list of tasks and experiments to perform a live frog (toad), the frog is not injured or dissected
Zoo-logical Dinosaurs – a logic puzzle about dinosaurs, mainly for fun
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 aves class
Animal Diversity Web – explore website, information on classes, orders and relationships
Virtual Field Trip to the San Diego Zoo – explore the site, answer questions
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
Designer Dogs – activity sheet on hybrids, mutts and designer dogs.

**Dissection Worksheets are available for frogs, rats, bullfrogs and other chordates.

Slides on Chordates Intro to Chordates and Fish Fish Form and Function | Amphibians | Reptiles | Birds   Mammals  |  Mammal Orders Primates and Human Origins

Animal Reproduction and the Amniote Egg 

Animal Behavior

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
Isopod Behavior Lab ( no lab report)

Animal Videos

*Videos for all major animal groups can be found at National Geographic Videos, a great resource for showing clips of animals you are discussing in class.
The Dog Whisperer  – a flow chart guide that will work with any episode of Cesar Milan’s show