Vertebrate and Invertebrate Worksheets

Animal Science - horse
        Vertebrate and invertebrate worksheets and animal life cycle lesson plans that are designed for high school, middle school, and elementary school life science teachers are downloadable here for free. NGSS Life Science offers many great science lessons. Vertebrate classification worksheets make learning classification fun. Click the Free Lesson Plan (PDF) link below or become a member to get access to the answer key and editable file. Free vertebrate and invertebrate curriculum includes:
  • Animal Worksheet
    Vertebrate Worksheet - Taxonomy
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    High School Worksheet
    In this vertebrate worksheet, students use a concept map to interpret how animals are related.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS4-1
    HS-LS4-5
    HS-LS4-6
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Worksheet
    What is Life Worksheet - Frozen Frog
    Published by NGSS Life Science. Free Lesson Plan (PDF)

    Lesson Plan (DOCX) & Answer Key with Membership
     
    High School Worksheet
    This is a great twist on an interesting fact that wood frogs can freeze in the winter and thaw in the spring to resume living. Students will evaluate claims and evidence on if a frozen frog is alive. This worksheet helps students to build their claim evidence and reasoning skills.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS2-6
    		  
    Published by NGSS Life Science
  • Animal Multimedia
    The Science of Ape Intelligence
    Free Lesson Plan
    Free Video
     
    High School Multimedia
    Student will watch the video about the science of ape intelligence and, after watching, discuss answers to questions related to similarities and differences between intelligence in apes and in humans. Students are first organized into teams to track experiments and field observations. Students then watch the video (online or by DVD) and take notes on their topic. Student next will meet in their groups and fill in the two worksheets. Lastly, student will have a class discussion about the topics discussed.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS2-8
    MS-LS1-8 (Brain)
    		  
    Published by Margy Kuntz, NGHT, Inc. and WGBH Educational Foundation
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    External Anatomy of a Frog
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    High School Lab
    The eyes, legs, and mouth of the frog is dissected and analyzed.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS1-2
    MS-LS1-3 (HBS)
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Fetal Pig Dissection
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    High School Lab
    Fetal Pig dissection lab manual.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS1-2
    MS-LS1-3 (HBS)
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Test or Quiz
    Group Behavior Test Question Bank
    Published by NGSS Life Science. Free Lesson Plan (PDF)

    Lesson Plan (DOCX) & Answer Key with Membership
     
    High School Test
    The animal group behavior quiz question bank includes natural selection, mutualism, parasites, altruism, and sentry behavior. You can use the question bank to build assessments, and active membership is required to view questions.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS2-8
    		  
    Published by NGSS Life Science
  • Animal Worksheet
    Intro to Sponges
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Middle School Worksheet
    Students will read and answer questions on a sponge's anatomy, physiology, reproduction and metabolism. Students will also color drawing for corresponding body parts.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    MS-LS3-2 (Types of Reproduction)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Invertebrate Lab: Earthworms and Soil Fertilization
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Elementary School Lab
    How do earthworms influence soil structure? Students observe and discuss how worms ingest soil, break down organic matter, and eject material as surface or sub-surface casts. Also discussed is the formation of water-stable aggregates, the aeration of the soil, and the improvement of soil water-holding capacity.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS2-1 (Resource Availability)
    5-LS2-1 (Movement of Matter)
    4-LS1-1 (Plant Animal Structures)
    		  
    Published by Carolyn Matthews
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Invertebrate Lab
    Free Student Handout
    Free Teacher Notes
     
    Elementary School Lab
    In this invertebrate lab, students compare the anatomy of earthworms, snails, and several arthropods. All of the invertebrates in this lab can be purchased at a low cost from a local pet store.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    4-LS1-1 (Plant Animal Structures)
    		  
    Published by Ingrid Waldron and Jennifer Doherty
  • Animal Worksheet
    Arthropod Poetry
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Middle School Worksheet
    Students read the rhymes about arthropods and predict which associated scientific term explain the rhyme.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    MS-LS3-2 (Types of Reproduction)
    4-LS1-1 (Plant Animal Structures)
    3-LS1-1 (Life Cycles)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Observation of a Living Earthworm
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Middle School Lab
    Students observe a live earthworm and answer questions about the Phylum Annalida, segmentation, sides (dorsal, ventral, posterior, anterior), receptacles (clitellum, setae, seminal), and responses to stimuli.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    MS-LS2-4 (Ecosystem Affect on Populations)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Hydra Microscope Lab
    Free Lesson Plan
     
    Middle School Lab
    Students will observe a living and a preserved hydra using a microscope. Students will then draw what they observe and label the parts. Third, students will touch the hydra and to see how the it reacts. Last, students add some food to the slide and maybe watch the hydra feed.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS1-4 (Animal Plant Structures)
    MS-LS3-2 (Types of Reproduction)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Vertebrate Classification Challenge
    Free Lesson Plan
    Free Teacher Notes
     
    Middle School Lab
    Students practice a vertebrate classification using the organisms discussed in the Prentice Hall textbook called the Parade of Life: Animals.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS2-5 (Biodiversity)
    MS-LS4-2 (Anatomical Structures)
    		  
    Published by Tracy Trimpe
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Invertebrate Classification Challenge
    Free Lesson Plan
    Free Teacher Notes
     
    Middle School Lab
    Students practice an invertebrate classification using the organisms discussed the Prentice Hall textbook called the Parade of Life: Animals.
    NGSS Standard
    MS-LS2-5 (Biodiversity)
    MS-LS4-2 (Anatomical Structures)
    		  
    Published by Tracy Trimpe
  • Animal Lab Experiment
    Food Chain Lab - Owl Pellets
    Free Student Handout
     
    Middle School Lab
    In this food chain lab, students dissect owl pellets to learn how the owl is part of a food chain. Since the owl regurgitates these compact pellets, owl pellets are undigested parts that the owl eats, which contain fur and bones of small rodents. Dry pellets will not smell and are acceptable for students to handle with gloves.
    NGSS Standard
    HS-LS1-2
    HS-LS2-4
    MS-LS1-7 (Metabolism)
    MS-LS2-1 (Resource Availability)
    		  
    Published by Shannan Muskopf