Vertebrate Zoology: Session 1
This is part 1 of 2 in the full year (29 weeks) Vertebrate Zoology series.
This class is a pre-requisite for Vertebrate Zoology Session 2 in the spring semester.
CLASS DESCRIPTION
After taking the 2023-2024 school year off from creating a new full year science class, I'm excited to announce that I will be offering a full year Vertebrate Zoology course starting in September 2024! I'm currently creating the class now so nothing is set in stone, but my rough outline is for a 29 week course focusing on Vertebrate Zoology from an evolutionary perspective. The class will be geared toward students 12-17 in two difficulty levels. I plan to have a focus on tropical rainforest species, and to offer an optional end of the year field trip to Costa Rica in 2025 for students who want to get hands on with a 5 day workshop like we do for our Marine Science students each year!
CLASS FORMAT
No live classes- view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both- the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2. Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback. Read more details about class format.
Week 1: The Classification and Evolution of Vertebrates
We'll focus on taxonomy and phylogeny, the two ways we will be classifying vertebrates in this class, and finish with an overview of evolution.
Week 2: Vertebrates- More Than Just a Backbone
We'll learn all of the characteristics and structures that make a vertebrate a vertebrate, both through comparative embryology and adult anatomy.
Week 3: Jaws (It's not just a movie about Sharks!)
We'll go back over 500 million years in Earth's history and follow the evolution of a major game changer for vertebrates- jaws!
Week 4: Adaptations for Living in Water
Vertebrate life began in the water. What adaptations were required to make living in a watery world easier?
Week 5: How the Paleozoic Era Shaped Vertebrate Evolution
We'll march through over 4 billion years of Earth's history, focusing on the Paleozoic era and all of the life that evolved during that time.
Week 6: Chondrichthians Part 1: Evolution of Cartilaginous Fish and Modern Batoids
We'll cover the phylogeny and taxonomy of Chondrichthyans, discover the ancient ancestors that evolved into today's modern species, and discuss the batoids- skates and rays.
Week 7: Chondrichthians Part 2: Modern Sharks
We'll continue our study of Chondrichthyans by focusing on modern sharks and conservation issues.
Week 8: Osteichthyans Part 1: Evolution of Bony Fishes
We'll discuss the two major groups of Osteichthyans, their characteristics, and evolution. Then, a focus on extant Sarcopterygians.
Week 9: Osteichthyans Part 2: Modern Bony Fishes
This week we'll focus on the largest group of vertebrates on the planet, the Actinopterygian fish.
Week 10: Fish Leave the Water and Head for Land!
Week 11: Amphibians: The Next Step Toward Land
Week 12: Adaptations Required for a Land Based Life
Week 13: How the Mesozoic Era Shaped Vertebrate Evolution
Week 14: Vertebrate Divergence: Synapsids and Sauropsids
Doing labs in-person is OPTIONAL. All labs are on video so students can see the lab and complete their assessment without having to directly participate. However, as with most things, doing is better than just observing!
WEEK 6
Stingray specimenLinks to an external site.
Gloves
Goggles
Tweezers or Forceps
Scalpel
Scissors
ADULT SUPERVISION
WEEK 7
Shark specimenLinks to an external site.
Gloves
Goggles
Tweezers or Forceps
Scalpel
Scissors
ADULT SUPERVISION
WEEK 9
Fish specimenLinks to an external site.
Gloves
Goggles
Tweezers or Forceps
Scalpel
Scissors
ADULT SUPERVISION
WEEK 11
Frog SpecimenLinks to an external site.
Gloves
Goggles
Tweezers or Forceps
Scalpel
Scissors
ADULT SUPERVISION
Next Level Homeschool is a firm believer that not all learning should happen from behind a screen! That's why we give students the freedom to submit their assignments in the way THEY want to! We don't want regurgitation learning here. By allowing students to use their own talents, skills, and passions to complete assignments, they become even more engaged and retain the information. Why? Because now it's literally in their hands! We receive thousands of projects every year from our students- written reports, videos, models, posters, Scratch, minecraft, songs, poems, skits, drawings, sculptures, crafts- we've seen it ALL! And WE LOVE IT!!
Click here to view just a few projects we've received from students who have taken this class, and see what YOUR kid could be learning with Next Level Homeschool!
Course Features
- Schedule Sep 3 - Dec 17
- Activities NEW Classes
- Lessons 14
- Suggested Ages 12-17 Two Levels
- Time This class is currently closed for enrollments.
