Wildlife Conservation Center Aquarium 7th Grade:

 

NY Aquarium: To learn the types of skeletal systems

Skill: Compare and contrast

Objectives: Students will read, write, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.

Review: Prior to beginning this lesson there was an introduction to the human skeletal system and its relation to he support and movement of the human body.

Motivation: How do you define a skeletal system? Write a brief description of a skeletal system function in a living organism. Be specific as to how you would describe a skeletal system.

Activity:

Completion of the characteristic chart.

The students have engaged in a weeklong assignment gathering pictures and information about a given list of organisms. The chart will allow for the arrangement of the organisms according to skeletal system traits.

Directions: Using the information compiled from the list organisms given in class, complete the following handout as a group. Upon completion the results will be placed on the chalkboard for a class analysis.

Questions:

What did you notice about the organisms chosen to have internal skeletal systems? What are some of their common characteristics?

What about the organism with external characteristics?

How were the two groups different? What were some of the features that made them different?

Answers will vary from the presence of a shell, hard outer coating, or lack of bones. Student responses will be recorded on the chalkboard. With the two groups of skeletal systems clearly defined continue to part B.

Part B:

Have students attempt to complete a second handout involving developing a description for each type of skeletal system. (Internal and External)

Conclusion: Introduce the appropriate terminology for skeletal systems possessing the qualities discussed in class. Supply the students with a working definition for each type of skeletal system.

Visit: New York Aquarium

Students will take part in the educational program designed and run by the aquarium. Develop a chart similar to the one in class, and classify the skeletal systems of the organisms observed during the trip.

Homework: Choose 3 organisms discussed on the trip and justify your classification of its skeletal system. Think about how the skeletal system of the organism given in class benefits them in their natural environment. Be specific. Write down your thoughts in a paragraph 8-10 sentences in length.


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Last modified on: Tuesday, August 21, 2001