How Animals Perceive the World
The animal kingdom is very diverse. Each animal has a unique appearance, body structure, and senses adapted to the environment in which it lives. Their environment also reflects in the structure of their nervous systems. In this lesson, students will be briefly introduced to the nervous systems of all types of animals and observe them on interactive 3D models.
Learning objectives:
- Learn the function of the nervous system and senses.
- Compare nervous systems of different animal types.
- Discover the internal structures of animals using 3D interactive models and a practical experiment.
Developed digital competencies: understanding phenomena through 3D models, explaining processes using 3D models
Keywords: Nervous system, Senses, Animals
Duration: 10 min
In this lesson, you will continue studying the nervous and sensory systems of animals, focusing on invertebrates. Begin with a short brainstorming session to review knowledge gained from the first part of the lesson plan. Name the vertebrate classes mentioned earlier and ask students to provide information on the sensory and nervous systems of each. After reviewing, continue with other animal phyla, moving up to simpler animals.
Duration: 5 min
Observation and examination:
Duration: 10 min
Observation and examination:
- Cuttlefish:
- Freshwater Mussel:
Duration: 30 min
Class: Crustaceans – Observation: Narrow-Clawed Crayfish
Class: Arachnids – Observation: Mexican Redknee Tarantula
Class: Insects – Observations:
- Rhinoceros Beetle
- Ant
- Honeybee
- Monarch Butterfly
- Caterpillar
Duration: 5 min
Observation and examination: Earthworm
Duration: 5 min
Observation and examination: Nematode
Duration: 5 min
Observation and examination: Planarian
Duration: 5 min
Observation and examination: Hydra
Duration: 5 min
Observation and examination: Sponge
Duration: 10 min
After completing this overview, students should understand the differences between the nervous systems of various animal groups. During the final recap, emphasize that each species has adapted its senses to its specific environment — ask students for concrete examples. They should be able to explain, for instance, why dogs have an excellent sense of hearing while birds have superior vision.
In reflection, the teacher discusses with students what new things they learned and what interested them most. The teacher can create a mind map on the classroom board or record students’ insights in another way. During this discussion, summarize the new findings and suggest additional educational resources students can explore for deeper learning and further development.