- 1). Define invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone or spinal column. Help students to remember the term by explaining the etymology of the word, which literally translates "without a vertebrate." Distinguish invertebrates from vertebrates, which are animals with a backbone or spinal column. Explain that all animals are either classified as vertebrates or invertebrates.
- 2). Introduce students to the major invertebrate groups (phyla). There are 30 phyla of invertebrates, and the major phyla include protozoa, echinoderms, annelids, crustaceans, arachnids, arthropods, mollusks, sponges, insects and gastropods. Provide examples of each of these groups to help students to conceptualize the different classifications. For instance, an earthworm is a part of the annelid group, while an octopus is part of the mollusk group.
- 3). Teach students how invertebrates function. Because they are without a backbone or spinal column, their digestive and nervous systems work differently than vertebrates' do. Also, chronicle the natural history of invertebrates, explaining how invertebrates have evolved over time. These details help students to understand how invertebrates sustain life.
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