Apologia: Biology Module 13 Chordates

In an earlier post, I advised instructors to review vertebrates and invertebrates.  I would go over the features of a vertebrate again.  Finally, we are looking at human anatomy.  Once I start dissections, I usually do the entire set over the course of two weeks.  Our Co-op meets for three hours; the kids may need two or three sessions to complete all seven speciemens.  The frog, rat, and fetal pig are good specimens to prepare for human anatomy.  The kids will learn that kidneys lie along the back and the gastro systems aren't so different from ours.  You may want to complete all of the dissections before beginning Module 13 or allow some overlap.  Your call.  The Biology Corner has packets for the remaining specimens.  After the kids finish their dissections, have them complete the comparative morphology chart with their dissection specimens as representative species using their notes, text, and packets as references.  Through the course of the year, my kids use CER or Claim Evidence Reasoning regularly.  One example is to ask if a sea squirt is a vertebrate and have them apply this process when answering.  I want my students to get in the habit of writing and supporting their findings.