SC.912.L.15.7

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Discuss distinguishing characteristics of vertebrate and representative invertebrate phyla, and chordate classes using typical examples.
General Information
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 912
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Standard: Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms -

A. The scientific theory of evolution is the fundamental concept underlying all of biology.

B. The scientific theory of evolution is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence.

C. Organisms are classified based on their evolutionary history.

D. Natural selection is a primary mechanism leading to evolutionary change.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2000330: Biology 2 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2000410: Zoology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plan

What is that Vertebrate?:

In this group-centered activity, students will be actively engaged in learning the characteristics that define the classes of vertebrates. Activities include a card sort, developing criteria for vertebrate classes, student teaching, and classifying a mystery animal.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Classy Chordates Part 1:

Learn the unique characteristics of four classes of underwater animals within phyla chordata, including tunicates, lancelets, lampreys, rays, sharks, and chimeras, in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in a two-part series. Click to open Part 2 to learn about more familiar classes of animals in phylum chordata.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Classy Chordates: Part 2:

Explore the unique characteristics of bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from phylum chordata in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 in a two-part series. Click to open Part 1 to learn about less familiar classes of animals in phylum chordata.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Classifying Animals Part 2: Annelids, Nematodes, Arthropods, Sea Stars, and Chordates:

Continue your tour of Kingdom Animalia by exploring the similarities and unique characteristics of annelids, nematodes, arthropods, echinoderms, and chordates. In this interactive tutorial, you'll also review animals from the four phyla we met in Part 1.

This is Part 2 in a series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Classifying Animals Part 1: Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, and Mollusks:

Dive into the fascinating world of animals and explore the similarities and unique characteristics of sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, and mollusks in this interactive tutorial.

This is Part 1 in a series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Ideas

Animals in the News-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

In this activity the student will identify various animals' biographical information and research various animals using the Internet and literature.

Type: Teaching Idea

Primate Scavenger Hunt-SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

Students will conduct an investigation into conservation issues that concern modern day primates and will research various primates.

Type: Teaching Idea

Video/Audio/Animation

Zebrafish Heart Regeneration:


This video presentation will help to understand the regeneration process in a zebrafish. When the zebrafish heart is damaged, the wound site is rapidly sealed with a fibrin clot that stems bleeding within seconds. Following clot formation, the tissue that surrounds the heart muscle, the epicardium, gradually covers the fibrin clot via migration and cell division. Over the next few months, new cardiac muscle is produced and replaces the clot.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades 9-12

Classifying Animals Part 1: Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, and Mollusks:

Dive into the fascinating world of animals and explore the similarities and unique characteristics of sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, and mollusks in this interactive tutorial.

This is Part 1 in a series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Classifying Animals Part 2: Annelids, Nematodes, Arthropods, Sea Stars, and Chordates:

Continue your tour of Kingdom Animalia by exploring the similarities and unique characteristics of annelids, nematodes, arthropods, echinoderms, and chordates. In this interactive tutorial, you'll also review animals from the four phyla we met in Part 1.

This is Part 2 in a series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Classy Chordates Part 1:

Learn the unique characteristics of four classes of underwater animals within phyla chordata, including tunicates, lancelets, lampreys, rays, sharks, and chimeras, in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in a two-part series. Click to open Part 2 to learn about more familiar classes of animals in phylum chordata.

Classy Chordates: Part 2:

Explore the unique characteristics of bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from phylum chordata in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 in a two-part series. Click to open Part 1 to learn about less familiar classes of animals in phylum chordata.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorials

Classy Chordates Part 1:

Learn the unique characteristics of four classes of underwater animals within phyla chordata, including tunicates, lancelets, lampreys, rays, sharks, and chimeras, in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 in a two-part series. Click to open Part 2 to learn about more familiar classes of animals in phylum chordata.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Classy Chordates: Part 2:

Explore the unique characteristics of bony fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals from phylum chordata in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 in a two-part series. Click to open Part 1 to learn about less familiar classes of animals in phylum chordata.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Classifying Animals Part 2: Annelids, Nematodes, Arthropods, Sea Stars, and Chordates:

Continue your tour of Kingdom Animalia by exploring the similarities and unique characteristics of annelids, nematodes, arthropods, echinoderms, and chordates. In this interactive tutorial, you'll also review animals from the four phyla we met in Part 1.

This is Part 2 in a series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Classifying Animals Part 1: Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, and Mollusks:

Dive into the fascinating world of animals and explore the similarities and unique characteristics of sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, and mollusks in this interactive tutorial.

This is Part 1 in a series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Video/Audio/Animation

Zebrafish Heart Regeneration:


This video presentation will help to understand the regeneration process in a zebrafish. When the zebrafish heart is damaged, the wound site is rapidly sealed with a fibrin clot that stems bleeding within seconds. Following clot formation, the tissue that surrounds the heart muscle, the epicardium, gradually covers the fibrin clot via migration and cell division. Over the next few months, new cardiac muscle is produced and replaces the clot.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.