CLASSIFYING AND COMPARING WORMS Introduction In this WebQuest, students will conduct Internet research
on worms. They also will answer questions about the different
classifications of worms, based on their Internet research.
The will investigate similarities and differences among
these three phyla of invertebrate and summarize the information
they collected by completing the Worm Comparison
worksheet. Other information on the worksheet will also
allow students to describe a species for each phylum. Top
Task While students are doing their Internet research, they
will answer the set of questions given. Each Web site has
some of the answers to the questions, but several of the
questions may require information from two or more of the
web sites. Students should be able to compile information
to answer the questions as they read through each Web site.
Students should be encouraged to explore other Web sites
beyond the prompts given. As students research the answers to the questions, they
will also gather information to use as they complete the
Worm Comparison worksheet. Students will use the
worksheet to compare the three phyla of worms, describe
their similarities and differences, and identify a specific
example of each type of worm.
Objectives - Classify flatworms, roundworms, and segmented
worms
- Describe the characteristics of flatworms, roundworms,
and segmented worms
- Compare and contrast flatworms, roundworms, and
segmented worms
- Identify and describe a specific example of phylum
Platyhelminthes, phylum Nematoda, and phylum Annelida.
Top
Resources Students will use the Internet links provided to find out
all about the different classifications of worms. By investigating
flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms, they will collect
information in order to describe each of these phyla of
invertebrates. They will compare and contrast these three
types of animals Further research will allow students to
describe flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms in more
detail. Students will also identify and describe a specific
example of each of these types of worms. Top
Time 2 days to answer the set of questions and complete the
Worm Comparison worksheet Top
Process As students progress through the list of Web sites, you
may help them focus on what they need to know to answer
the questions. Several of the Web sites have links to other
Web sites with relevant information. If time allows, you
may want to allow students to further explore subjects related
to the three phyla of worms. Always supervise students
carefully as they search the Internet. Students will then continue with their Internet research
to compare flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms by
completing the Worm Comparison worksheet. They should use their research to find more information
in order to describe how these three types of worms are
similar and how they are different. Students will include
information about an example species from each phylum. Have students review the rubric to understand how their
final product will be evaluated. Encourage students to share their worksheets with classmates
to compare the different species of flatworms, roundworms,
and segmented worms they chose to investigate. Worm Comparison worksheet
PDF (18K)
(Requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader®) Top
Evaluation Worm Comparison Worksheet Rubric | Worm Comparison
Worksheet Rubric | Possible
Points* | Self-
Assessment | Teacher
Assessment | | Complete all table
entries for flatworms. | 10 | | | Complete all table
entries for roundworms. | 10 | | | Complete all table
entries for segmented worms. | 10 | | | Include at least
one specific example of a species for each worm phylum. | 10 | | | Write a description
for each example species. Include a minimum of three
facts in the description for each species. | 10 | | |
*You may assign 10 points to each of
the 5 questions for a total of 50 possible points. Possible
answers to the questions are given below. You may rate
the answer to each question by the following scale: Excellent
– 9-10 points; Very Good – 7-8 points; Good
– 5-6 points; Satisfactory – 3-4 points; Poor
– 1-2 points; and Unsatisfactory – 0 points. Possible Answers to Questions about Worms –
Student answers will vary - Flatworms are part of the phylum Platyhelminthes. They
are unsegmented worms and do not have a coelom. Flatworms
do not have a respiratory system or a circulatory system.
- Roundworms are part of the phylum Nematoda. They are
bilaterally symmetrical invertebrates. Roundworms have
a simple body plan.
- Segmented worms are part of the phylum Annelida. Segmented
worms have a true coelom. They have a circulatory system
and a digestive system.
- Flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms are all invertebrates.
Some species of each type of worm are free-living, meaning
they are not dependent on another organism for food.
- Segmented worms are the most complex animals of these
three invertebrates. Segmented worms have a true coelom.
Flatworms do not have a coelom, and roundworms have a
pseudocoelom.
Evaluating the Worksheet Use the evaluation rubric or other means to assess each
student’s Worm Comparison worksheet. Evaluation
of the worksheet should include self-assessment and teacher
assessment. Students may want to base part of their self-assessment
on how they have increased their awareness of the similarities
and differences between the three phyla of invertebrates.
Top Conclusion Using information gathered from the Internet, students
should be able to answer the questions about flatworms,
roundworms, and segmented worms. Student should be able
to classify each type of worm and describe its characteristics.
Students should also be able to describe the similarities
and differences among the three invertebrates. After completing
their research, students should apply their learning to
complete the Worm Comparison worksheet, where students continue
to describe flatworms, roundworms, and segmented worms,
as well as identify and describe one species from phylum
Platyhelminthes, phylum Nematoda, and phylum Annelida. Top
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