Advanced Mammal Ecology | (Zoology) (Wildlife)
In this course, students will study mammals, from anteaters to red pandas to leopards. This class is challenging, but students will be supported and encouraged as they explore advanced topics like taxonomy, socioecology, and competition.
Allie Wilson, MAT
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(308)
What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be given homework assignments, discussion questions, weekly quizzes, and a final test at the end. I will also provide a fun review game at the end of the unit on Blooket (my high schoolers love it!).Assessment
Feedback will be given on all submitted assignments. If desired, I can provide a formal numerical grade.Grading
Students will automatically have their quiz and test grades returned to them. I provide written feedback on all assignments, but can provide numerical and/or letter grades upon request.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 10
Advanced Level
Why study mammals? You are one...but so are bats, pangolins, cheetahs, manatees, and dogs! In this course, students will jump right into the world of mammals (like the golden lion tamarin pictured above) through an introductory exploration of the field of mammalogy. This course is meant to be a challenging but approachable introduction to the study of mammals. I will be there right beside your student (figuratively!) to help them learn. This is a great opportunity to expose your student to some more advanced topics, especially if they are interested in studying zoology, biology, wildlife conservation, or ecology in college. Lesson 1: Introduction to Mammalogy Lesson 2: Mammalian Taxonomy (Major categories of mammals from aardvarks to bats to chimpanzees) Lesson 3 3: Feeding and Foraging Strategies Lesson 4: Adaptations (Morphology, Locomotion, and Anatomy) Lesson 5: Competition, Migration, and Home Ranges Lesson 6: Social Behavior (Parental care) Lesson 7: Social Behavior Pt. 2 (Mating systems and communication) Lesson 8: Extinct animals, review, and test Each lesson includes a 15-30 minute video lesson with slides. Supplemental videos, articles, and homework assignments will be shared in the classroom. Students will also be prompted to answer discussion questions. There will be a short quiz each week and a test at the end of the unit. I will provide feedback to all submitted work and can provide a numerical grade if desired. This course is fun, fascinating, and foundational to college zoology classes but is accessible to all teens. My goal is to expose students to advanced topics in a supportive and individualized environment. (This course was previously titled "Mammalogy: The Ecology of Mammals".)
Learning Goals
Students will gain an advanced understanding of mammal taxonomy, behavior, adaptations, and ecology.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to Mammalogy
Welcome to Advanced Mammal Ecology! In this lesson, we will learn about mammalian characteristics and the three categories of mammals: monotremes, metatherians (marsupials), and eutherians. 1 assignment
Lesson 2:
Mammalian Taxonomy
In this lesson, we will learn about taxonomy, the study of classifying animals by their genetic relationships. We will start using binomial nomenclature as we discuss eight of the most important mammalian orders. 1 assignment
Lesson 3:
Feeding and Foraging Strategies
This lesson is about animal diets, from frugivores (fruit-eaters) to myrmecophagous (ant-eating) animals and everyone in between! We will also discuss how animals find their food and learn about theories of solitary and group foraging. 1 assignment
Lesson 4:
Adaptations (Morphology, Locomotion, and Anatomy)
In this lesson, we will explore the concepts of adaptation, acclimatization, and natural selection, focusing on the various types of adaptations seen in mammals and their trade-offs. We will also look at examples of locomotion adaptations and the fascinating phenomena of mimicry and signaling in animal behavior. 1 assignment
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This course includes (non-graphic, not detailed) discussions of mating, mentions of climate change, and some information on evolution. All topics are covered from a purely scientific point of view. If you are concerned about any of these topics, feel free to message me for more information.
Supply List
Articles, videos, and other assignments will be provided in the classroom.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined July, 2020
4.9
308reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Arkansas Teaching Certificate in Science
I am a high school biology, zoology, and environmental science teacher. Before teaching, I conducted mammalogy research in Florida and worked at an aquarium, two major science museums and a primate sanctuary. I love zoology and giving students the chance to expose themselves to more specialized topics.Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$10
weekly or $80 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 74 learners
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Ages: 13-17
