Week 1
Lesson 1
Introduction to the Kingdom Animalia and taxonomy
In this lesson, we'll dive right in and cover taxonomy basics, focusing on grouping and naming animals using binomial nomenclature. We'll explore major phyla and see the amazing diversity of animal life.
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Reptiles
This lesson includes a brief overview of vertebrates, focusing on their defining features like the vertebral column, endoskeleton, and cranial structure. The lesson will focus on reptiles, including squamates (snakes and lizards), turtles, tuataras, and crocodilians.
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Amphibians
This lesson, we'll review reptiles before learning about amphibians, noting their differences in scales and skin properties. We'll cover various orders like Caudata, Anura, and Apoda, and discuss unique traits such as autotomy and aposematic coloration.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Birds and Fish
This lesson, we'll explore birds and fish, noting key characteristics such as birds' hollow bones and feathers, as well as fish's swim bladders and different skeletal structures. We'll cover bird orders like Passeriformes, Anseriformes, and Accipitriformes, and fish classes such as Osteichthyes, Chondrichthyes, and Agnatha.
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Mammals (Terrestrial and Marine)
This lesson, we'll cover mammal characteristics and the three main groups: Marsupials, Monotremes, and placental mammals. We'll also explore mammal orders like Carnivora, Cetacea, and Rodentia, along with bonus groups like Ungulates and Chiroptera.
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Worms (Platyhelminthes, Annelia, and Nematoda)
This lesson explores the weird world of worms, including Annelida, Platyhelminthes, and Nematoda, with their neat features like bilateral symmetry and setae. From marine bristle worms to tapeworms, we'll discover their adaptations and roles in their ecosystems.
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Cnidaria (corals, jellies, anemones) and Porifera (sea sponges)
This lesson focuses on Cnidaria, Echinodermata, and Porifera, exploring their unique features, such as radial symmetry in cnidarians, tube feet in echinoderms, and the porous structure of sponges.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Arthropods and Mollusks
This lesson explores Arthropoda, focusing on their diversity and unique characteristics like exoskeletons and compound eyes. We will also discuss various groups like crustaceans and hexapods and cover Phylum Mollusca, detailing bivalves, cephalopods, and gastropods. This week will also include course review and a final exam.