Animal Classification Lesson Plan

Teacher: Ginger Keen

Lesson Title: Classification and Diversity of Animals
Subject Area(s): Biology
Grade Level: 9th Grade
Time Needed: Five 1 hour and 20 minutes classes
Learning Objectives: Based on 2010 Science Framework for Biology
Overall Objective: Develop an understanding of animal classification.
Sub-objective 1: Classify organisms according to traditional Linnaean classification characteristics (e.g.,
cell structure, biochemistry, anatomy, fossil record, methods of reproduction) and the cladistics approach.
Sub-objective 2: Categorize organisms according to the characteristics that distinguish them as Eucarya.

Characteristics of invertebrates as related to all invertebrate phyla and among classes

found within Phylum Arthropoda
Characteristics of vertebrates as related to classes found within Phylum Chordata

Student Learning Resources at Home

Watch YouTube videos:

o Introduction to Animal Diversity
o Invertebrate Diversity Part 1-4
o Vertebrate Diversity: An Introduction, The Fish, Amphibians
o Vertebrate Diversity: Reptiles, Birds and Mammals
View PowerPoint, and websites to complete homework.

Student Learning Activities at Home

Complete homework assignments: Research Journal

Other learning resources:
o biologycorner.com
o sciencespot.net
Review videos
o Introduction to Animal Diversity
o Invertebrate Diversity Part 1-4
o Vertebrate Diversity: An Introduction, The Fish, Amphibians
o Vertebrate Diversity: Reptiles, Birds and Mammals
Student interaction with each daily video by answering the questions
Classroom Activities

Lecture and Group Discussion

Learning Games/Activities and Handouts
o Google doc handout
o Kahoot game
o PowerPoint game
Address common problems by asking questions
Take quiz

Assessment

Verbal questioning
Quizzes
End of Unit Exam

Tentative Schedule
Day

Objective

Worksheet/Game

Videos

Monday

To be able to differentiate
invertebrate organisms based
upon characteristics of the
following invertebrate phyla:
Porifera, Echinodermata, and
Cnidaria,

Lecture Notes
Kahoot Quiz

Introduction to Animal
Diversity
Invertebrate Diversity
Part 1
Invertebrate Diversity
Part 2

Tuesday

To be able to differentiate among

invertebrate phyla belonging to
the Phyla Platyhelminthes,
Nematoda, and Annelida and
classes within Phylum
Arthoropoda based upon
characteristics of the following
invertebrate organisms:
Crustacea, Myriapoda, Insecta,
and Arachnida
To be able to differentiate among
vertebrate classes based upon
characteristics of the following
classes of animals within Phylum
Chordata: Agnatha,
Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes,
and Amphibia.

Lecture Notes
Invertebrate Classification
Challenge Activity

Invertebrate Diversity
Part 3
Invertebrate Diversity
Part 4

Lecture Notes
Quiz on material from
Monday and Tuesday

Vertebrate Diversity:
An Introduction
Vertebrate Diversity:
The Fish
Vertebrate Diversity:
Amphibians

To be able to differentiate among

vertebrate classes based upon
characteristics of the following
classes of animal within Phylum
Chordata: Class Reptilia, Class
Aves, and Class Mammalia

Complete Lecture Notes

and Vertebrate
Characteristics Handout

Wednesday

Thursday

Vertebrate Characteristics
Handout

Vertebrate Diversity:
Reptiles
Vertebrate Diversity:
Birds
Vertebrate Diversity:
Mammals

Friday

End of Unit Assessment

Powerpoint review game

(short) and Exam

Course site: allaboutanimalclassification.weebly.com

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