By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Discuss the need for a comprehensive classification system
List the different levels of the taxonomic classification system
Describe how systematics and taxonomy relate to phylogeny
Discuss a phylogenetic tree's components and purpose

There are almost as many types of bird beaks as there are types of food that birds like to eat. This collection of images shows a wide range of beaks and the types of foods handled by each.

Students are asked to explain the characteristics of the bird in flight and how adaptations would allow the bird to fly a particular way. [0:32]

See how a place-based high school curriculum project promotes STEM learning through local ethnography and conservation projects. This video segment showcases one of 11 CREST projects taking place in rural, coastal Maine communities. [5:40]

In this video segment adapted from NOVA, find out how cars made of a material stronger than steel and half the weight can help combat climate change. [5:01]

In this interactive activity from NOVA, discover how centripetal force can affect you when riding in a car or flying at high speeds in a fighter jet.

Carolyne DeGrammont of the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens, NY talks about why she enjoys horses in this video segment from Wild TV. [0:51]

In this video segment from WILD TV, learn about wild parrots that breed and nest in Brooklyn. [5:00]

Learn about the history of pigeons in this video segment from WILD TV. [1:27]

This video [0:25] adapted from KTOO takes a look at Earth's warming and cooling cycles and the current atypical trend of warming that is impacting the glaciers in Alaska's Inside Passage.

A round up of wild horses proves too strenuous for a young colt in this video segment from Nature. Watch a video about this and follow up with discussion and writing prompts. [7:06]

In this video segment from Nature, Cloud, a two-year-old horse, interacts with his family in the wild. [3:23]

Students explore the definition of a function by playing an interactive game called "Club Function." The goal of the game is to be in the club! With students each assigned to be either a zebra or a rhinoceros, they group themselves according to the "rules" of the club function. After two minutes, students freeze in their groups, and if they are not correctly following the rules of the club function, then they are not allowed into the "club." Through this activity students come to understand that one x-coordinate can only have one corresponding y-coordinate while y-coordinates can have many x-coordinates that correspond to it.

A detailed tutorial on functions covering the following topics: finding the domain and range of a function, using the vertical line test, determining whether a function is even, odd, or neither, and applying the greatest integer function to a given number. Includes many sample functions, problems with step-by-step solutions, and practice questions with answers and discussions.

In this video segment from Nature, scientists work to discover why bees are disappearing. [2:39]

For animals, bright, flashy coloration can serve as a warning or as an invitation. Either way, colorful skin, feathers, and scales yell, "Notice me!" This collection of images shows examples of some of the world's most colorful creatures.

The CyberSquad proves that the area of Hacker's land is equal to the area of Judge Trudy's land in this video segment from Cyberchase.

This graphic illustrates some of the marsupial mammals in Australia and placental mammals in North America. Even though they are not closely related, these mammals look alike because they have adapted to similar ecological roles. From The Human Evolution Coloring Book by Adrienne Zihlman.