Aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence — S5L1. Sort, build, and pass the Milestones‑style quiz!
Georgia Standards of Excellence: S5L1.a — Develop a model to classify animals into major groups (vertebrates vs. invertebrates; fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals).
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone (vertebral column). Their skeleton can be bone or cartilage and supports major organ systems. Vertebrates include five main groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Common traits: endoskeleton, skull protecting a brain, and usually complex organ systems.
Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. Many have an external shell or exoskeleton (like insects and crabs), and others have soft bodies (like worms and jellyfish). Most animal species on Earth are invertebrates.
Common groups: arthropods (insects, arachnids, crustaceans), mollusks, annelids, echinoderms, and cnidarians.
A backbone is a series of small bones (vertebrae) protecting the spinal cord. Invertebrates lack this structure.
Most animal species are invertebrates. Vertebrates are a smaller share but include many familiar animals.
Drag each card into the correct group. Tab to a card and press Enter on a bin to drop via keyboard.
Which statement best explains why a jellyfish is classified as an invertebrate?
Which animal group belongs to the vertebrates?
Using the bar chart above, which estimate is closest to the percent of animal species that are invertebrates?
Select all pieces of evidence that support classifying an octopus as an invertebrate.
A student finds a small animal with an exoskeleton and jointed legs. Which classification is most accurate?
Tip: Revisit the passages, diagram, and graph if you missed items. Then try again!
