Program Objectives     Topics Covered       Pricing

Invertebrates guides students through an investigation of the majority of Earth's animal phyla.

In this overview of the animals without backbones, students gain an understanding of the evolutionary relationships between organisms by following trends in increasing complexity in body plans and levels of organization. Important details in animal development and categorization are reinforced as students tour the phyla, examining differences in development and organization as well as ways in which the various types of animals survive and reproduce to create new generations.

Topics covered in this program include: Origins of Multicellular Organisms; Distinctive Animal Characteristics; Binomial Classification of Animals; Embryonic Development and the Importance of Ectoderm, Endoderm, Mesoderm, and the Coelom; Symmetry; and An Overview of Invertebrate Phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Rotifera, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, and the Invertebrate Chordates.

Presentation
The Presentation portion of this program includes audio-narrated scenes featuring the content from the objectives.

Interactive Lessons
Students can work through different activities that directly reinforce the information learned in the Presentation.

Program Objectives

I. Introduction

II. Origins of Diversity

A. Earth's Early Inhabitants

B. Origins of Multicellular Eukaryotes

C. The Cambrian Explosion

D. The Fossil Record

III. Animal Characteristics

A. Animal Cells Are Bordered by a Cell Membrane

B. Animals Are Heterotrophs

C. Animals Typically Move at Some Stage in Their Lifecycles

D. Adults Are Diploid and Often Undergo Sexual Reproduction

IV. Classifying Animals

A. Binomial Nomenclature in Taxonomy

1. Classification Categories (Species to Kingdom)

B. Tissue and Organ Levels of Organization and Germ Layers

1. Gastrulas Possess Endoderm and Ectoderm

2. Animals Develop as Either Protostomes or Deuterostomes

3. Mesoderm

4. The Coelom

C. Symmetry

1. Radial Versus Bilateral Symmetry

2. Cephalization

3. Larval Symmetry Sometimes Differs From That in Adults

D. Overview of Animal Classification

V. Invertebrate Phyla

A. Porifera (Sponges)

1. Sponges Are an Ancient and Unusual Phylum

2. Sponge Characteristics

3. Sponge Reproduction

B. Cnidaria and Ctenophora (Cnidarians and Comb Jellies)

1. Tissue Level of Organization

2.  Cnidarians Have Radial Symmetry and Possess Specialized Stinging Cells

3. Cnidarian Body Forms and Reproduction

4. Ctenophores (Comb Jellies) Exhibit Biradial Symmetry and Several Unique Features

C . Platyhelminthes (Flatworms)

1 . Bilateral Symmetry and Organ Level of Organization

2 . Specialized Flatworm Structures

3 . Fluke and Tapeworm Lifecycles

4 . Flatworm Reproduction

D. Rotifera and Nematoda (Rotifers and Roundworms)

1. Rotifers and Nematodes Are Pseudocoelomates Having a Tube Within a Tube Body Plan

2. Rotifer and Nematode Lifestyles and Characteristics

3. Rotifer and Nematode Reproduction

E. Mollusca (Mollusks)

1. Mollusks Are Coelomates

2. Variations in Mollusk Classes

3. Features Common to All Mollusks: the Foot, the Mantle, and the Visceral Mass

4. Mollusk Reproduction

F. Annelida (Segmented Worms )

1. Annelid Body Plan and Segmentation

2. Variations in Annelid Classes

3. Annelid Reproduction

G. Arthropoda (Insects, Spiders, and Crustaceans)

1. Arthropods Have Specialized and Fused Segments

2. Characteristic Arthropod Features: Jointed Appendages and Exoskeletons

3. Specialized Arthropod Senses and Organ Systems

4. Arthropod Reproduction

H. Protostomes and Deuterostomes Differ Greatly

1. Coelom Formation

2. Spiral, Determinate Cleavage Versus Radial, Indeterminate Cleavage

I. Echinodermata (Echinoderms)

1. Radially Symmetrical Adults Develop From Bilaterally Symmetrical Larvae

2. The 'Spiny-Skinned' Echinoderms Have Endoskeletons

3. Echinoderm Water Vascular System and Tube Feet

4. Echinoderm Reproduction

J. Chordata (The Invertebrate Chordates)

1. Definitive Chordate Characteristics

2. Urochordata (The Tunicates and Sea Squirts)

3. Cephalochordata (The Lancelets)

VI. Economic Roles of Invertebrates

VII. Conclusion

		Designed with these features, or to meet the needs of the listed grade levels.

		Contains some of the listed features, or should be appropriate depending on students skill level.

Institutional Pricing

Specify Windows or Mac Network, 10 $240.00
Order #: X0993002HYNX

Specify Windows or Mac Network, 30 $540.00
Order #: X0993002HYNZ

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