Invertebrates - What Are Mollusks?

Mollusks are soft-bodied animals which often live in hard shells. There are over 50,000 species of mollusks.

Examples are:

• snails
• slugs
• squid
• mussels
• clams
• scallops
• chitons
• cuttlefish 
• oysters
• octopuses

Activity 1

• Put out an assortment of shells for students to observe.
• Have students use their senses to observe and examine the shells. (shape, color, texture, etc.)
• Have students put the shells into groups based on characteristics that they observe. (color, size, shape, texture, etc.)
• Have students explain what characrteristis they used to group the shells.
• Older students can try to regroup the shells using different characteristics.
• Again students should explain what characteristics they used to group the shells.

Activity 2

• Students can use field guides or pocket guides to identify shells according to scientific classifications.

          

       

      

Activity 3

• Younger students can trace shells and color in their pictures.
• Older students can sketch pictures of the shells and use the field guides to label the shells.

Activity 4

Students can watch a video and learn a song about mollusks.

Click here: Mollusk Song Video

Activity 5

Students can collect shells at a beach.

Activity 6

Students can read books about mollusks.

   

    

      

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