Handouts

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Procedure

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Materials, Preparation and Procedure

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In this activity students explore how animals are classified. For centuries taxonomists have been classifying the diversity of animal life based on observations and measurements of animals’ body plans. And now, with DNA sequencing, scientists have for the most part confirmed the work of earlier taxonomists. Students will learn the characteristics that define five of the major invertebrate phyla by watching videos, reading and sorting animal cards. The phyla are: Cnidarians, Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs, and Echinoderms.

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View the video clips for each animal listed on the table below (see video reference to find how to access the videos on shapeoflife.org). As a group, describe the animal’s solution to its problem and sketch the solution. Read the comparable human problem and write & sketch a solution that is inspired by the animal’s solution.

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Invertebrate Research Worksheet