Creature Classification - Invertebrates - Stages 4-5 Teacher Notes

Students investigate invertebrates in a self-guided activity in the Birds and Insects exhibition on Level 2.

Psocid insect on leaf

Psocid insect on leaf
M Bulbert © Australian Museum

Before Your Visit

Students collect information on nine invertebrates including the species name, a diagram of the organism and the number of legs it has. This information is then used to complete a key of the five arthropod groups and then finally to produce a key for themselves.

Syllabus links

Prescribed Focus Areas

4/5.2 the nature and practice of science

  • e) use examples which show that scientists isolate a set of observations, identify trends and patterns and construct hypotheses or models to explain these
Knowledge and Understanding

4.8.2 classification

  • a) classify living things according to structural features and identify that they have patterns of similarities and differences
  • b) identify a range of plants and animals using simple keys
Additional Content

Classification -design simple keys to identify a range of living things

4.8.4 multicellular organisms

  • a) identify that there is a wide range of multicellular organisms
Skills
  • 4/5.15 uses given criteria to gather first-hand data
  • 4/5.16 accesses information from identified secondary sources
  • 4/5.19 draws conclusions based on information available
  • 4/5.20 uses an identified strategy to solve problems
  • 4/5.22 undertakes a variety of individual and team tasks 
  • 4/5.22.1 working individually
  • 4/5.22.2 working in teams

Pre-visit activities

To ensure that students make the most of their time while doing this activity we recommend that they have, at least, a basic knowledge of the following:

  • classification is the grouping of organisms based on their similarities or differences
  • invertebrates are animals without backbones
  • keys can be used to classify living things
Photocopying

One copy of Creature Classification – Invertebrates Stages 4-5 Student Activities will be required for each student.
 


Ms Helen Wheeler , Education Project Officer
Last Updated:

Tags invertebrates, insects, spiders, minibeasts, student, program, education, self-guided, birds and insects exhibition,