Biology: The Dynamics of Life, California Edition

Unit 8: Invertebrates

WebQuest Projects

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.

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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.

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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.

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Time

2 days to answer the set of questions and complete the Worm Comparison worksheet

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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 Comparrison worksheet PDF (18K)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader®)

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Evaluation

Worm Comparison Worksheet Rubric

Worm Comparison Worksheet RubricPossible
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

  1. 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.
  2. Roundworms are part of the phylum Nematoda. They are bilaterally symmetrical invertebrates. Roundworms have a simple body plan.
  3. Segmented worms are part of the phylum Annelida. Segmented worms have a true coelom. They have a circulatory system and a digestive system.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

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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.

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