Let’s Meet the Invertebrates

Engage

10-20 minutes per day for 2-5 days

Tell your students they are going to “meet” some interesting animals with unique features that live in the ocean or freshwater lakes/ponds. Scientists group these animals together because they have similar features. Choose 3-5 groups of invertebrates (crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, worms, sponges, etc.), and introduce 1 or 2 groups each day. Describe some of the unique features of each group; then list some of the animal species in the group. If you can find or make appropriate puppets, use them to “talk” with your students. For example, an octopus puppet could tell all about the mollusk group. See the Teacher Background Information for information about marine and freshwater invertebrates.

Explore

Make a large class chart with the title: “Meet the Invertebrates” . Each category of invertebrate will have a column with labels of “what, who, how, where, and traditional use”. When you’ve finished introducing the invertebrate and describing each group’s unique characteristics as a class, fill in the chart.

Explain

20 minutes

When the invertebrates have been introduced, and the chart has been created with the students, have the students divide into groups and draw detailed pictures to add to the chart. Each group will draw one species from their assigned category (mollusk, echinoderm, crustacean, etc.) that is most applicable to the local area. Students will cut out their drawing and add it to the class chart (Meet the Invertebrates).

Elaborate

15 Minutes

Have students take a closer look at one animal within a category of invertebrates and use their science notebook to draw it and/or write their observations.  They will use field guides, posters, and books for detailed pictures of each invertebrate. Drawings might be detailed sketches with labels of specific features.

Extend

2-3 days

Introduce and play the Dice Toss game to learn about statistics and probability to reinforce their knowledge of invertebrate species.

Evaluate

Before students begin their science notebook entries, create a checklist with them to make sure they include everything needed in the science notebook entry—title, picture, label, etc. Use the list that they made to evaluate their work.