Differences in animal body plans mark branching points in evolutionary trees. In this comparative anatomy lesson students will look at the basic body plans in 5 animal specimens: the squid, the starfish, the dogfish, the pig, and the cat. Students […]
Skeletal systems are frameworks that support animal bodies, protect internal organs, and allow for movement. In this comparative anatomy lesson, students will learn about the three types of skeletons seen in the animal kingdom. They will then explore the difference […]
Muscle tissue is a defining characteristic of animals. The muscular system allows all animals to move at some point in their life. There are three types of muscle tissue:smooth, cardiac, and skeletal, each with a unique function. In this comparative […]
The digestive system ingests food, breaks it down so nutrients can be absorbed, and eliminates what cannot be digested. In the animal kingdom there are a variety of food-capturing methods along with variations in the digestive process. In this comparative […]
The urogenital system consists of the urinary and reproductive systems. They share common ducts so are often studied together. The urinary system is important in maintaining salt and water balance and ridding the body of nitrogen waste. The reproductive system […]
The circulatory system works closely with the respiratory and digestive systems to deliver oxygen and food to the cells, as well as to remove waste. This system includes blood, the heart, and the blood vessels. In the animal kingdom there […]
The nervous system is responsible for gathering information from the environment, processing and interpreting the stimulus, and then dictating a motor response to it. The human nervous system is divided into the central nervous system which consists of the brain […]
The respiratory system works closely with the circulatory system to deliver oxygen to the cells and rid the body of carbon dioxide. The human respiratory system includes the nasal cavity, the trachea and bronchial tree, and the primary organs, the […]
In this lesson students will first be introduced to the overall function of the skeletal system. They will then look at the form and function of the human vertebral column. It will allow students to work hands-on with the vertebrae. […]
This lesson will focus on the concept of biological evolution. Students will learn how speciation has occurred over the course of millions of years. In addition, students will learn that speciation can cause closely related species to become highly divergent […]
This lesson will focus on genetics and the concept of protein synthesis. Students will learn the role that DNA has in protein synthesis. They will understand how a protein’s unique structure will determine its function. Students will be able to […]
This lesson will focus on the form and function of viruses. Students will learn the basic structure of all viruses. In addition, they will learn how each virus has specificity in its structure that determines what range of host cells […]
