Grades 5-12: An animal skull reveals far more about the animal than just its species. Here, students analyze skulls to determine the animal's size, diet, eyesight and more!
ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, & PHYSIOLOGY (Grades 5-12)
What can a skull tell you? A lot! If you look at a skull for clues about its origin, not only can you identify what species it might be from, but you can learn many details about the original animal. In this lab, students will determine what clues to analyze in order to find out:
- The approximate length (including the tail) of the original specimen the skull came from
- Whether it was a predator or prey species
- What it likely preferred to eat (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore)
- Its trophic level (primary, secondary, tertiary consumer)
- Whether it walked on two or four legs
- How powerful its jaws were
- How well it could see
We collaborated with a local teacher in Ithaca to bring you the Comparative Skulls kit. The lab that goes with the kit is customized for both Middle and High School grades.
The kit includes one set of animal x-rays and matching pictures from 13 different species, including: common marmoset, European rabbit, infant kangaroo, sun and cichlid fishes, python and rattlesnake, iguana, chameleon, crocodile eggs, turtle, frog, and hawk and vulture in flight.
This kit includes:
- 7 pieces of colored rope, various lengths
- Binder containing a set of animal x-rays (14 different animals, each with x-ray and matching photo)
- 8 yellow rulers
- 8 black trays
- 8 animal skull replicas, with jaws:
- Black Bear
- American Beaver
- Red Fox
- Great Horned Owl
- White-Tailed Deer
- Teacher’s manual
- 8 student lab books
- 8 laminated animal picture collages
- 4 Books:
- Eyewitness Books: Skeleton
- The Skull Alphabet Book
- Skulls: An Exploration of Alan Dudley’s Curious Collection
- A Key-Guide to Mammal Skulls and Lower Jaws
HOW TO RESERVE
To request this kit, please complete our reservation form. This form includes details on equipment shipping, reservation logistics, and required training.