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Shape of Life provides free science resources for both students and teachers about the evolution of the animal kingdom. We offer short videos, lesson plans, features and news of animals on planet earth.
Phyla
The animal kingdom is one of six kingdoms of life on earth. Discover the greatest story ever told - the story of the animal kingdom and the eight major phyla that make up 99 percent of animals.
Features
Creature
The star tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri) a colonial tunicate
A marine model for stem cell research, evolution of the immune system and nerve degeneration.
The star tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri) a colonial tunicate
A marine model for stem cell research, evolution of the immune system and nerve degeneration.
Lesson Plan
What's The Bigger Picture
In this lesson, students combine art and science to interpret and illustrate graphical art. In this way, students will build understanding of the power of data infused art to convey the "bigger picture" of climate change.
What's The Bigger Picture
In this lesson, students combine art and science to interpret and illustrate graphical art. In this way, students will build understanding of the power of data infused art to convey the "bigger picture" of climate change.
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Did You Know?
Anchovy Die-Offs
Sometimes very large schools of anchovies come in close to shore and mistakenly swim up harbors where they find a dead end.
Anchovy Die-Offs
Sometimes very large schools of anchovies come in close to shore and mistakenly swim up harbors where they find a dead end.
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Teacher
Trish Finerty, Biology, MidMichigan College
“Students see the impacts of climate change firsthand as they collect data on water quality, conduct coral bleaching surveys, and observe the reef and its inhabitants.”
Trish Finerty, Biology, MidMichigan College
“Students see the impacts of climate change firsthand as they collect data on water quality, conduct coral bleaching surveys, and observe the reef and its inhabitants.”
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Scientist
Karla Palmieri
You need to “be a good cook” who can think creatively to do genetic sequencing work with invertebrates.
Karla Palmieri
You need to “be a good cook” who can think creatively to do genetic sequencing work with invertebrates.
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Blog
Tunicate Evolution and Us
Tunicates are invertebrates without backbones. But in their larval stage they have all four characteristics of chordates: a notochord, which is like a soft spinal cord; a post-anal tail; a dorsal nerve cord; and pharyngeal slits. Their name comes from a thick extracellular covering called a tunic. There are over three thousand species of tunicate living today.
Tunicate Evolution and Us
Tunicates are invertebrates without backbones. But in their larval stage they have all four characteristics of chordates: a notochord, which is like a soft spinal cord; a post-anal tail; a dorsal nerve cord; and pharyngeal slits. Their name comes from a thick extracellular covering called a tunic. There are over three thousand species of tunicate living today.
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