Mississippi Science ZOO.5.4

ScienceGrades 9–12Zoology I and II

The Standard

ZOO.5: Students will understand the basic structure and function of phylum Arthropoda, and how they demonstrate the characteristics of living things.

Identify organisms and characteristics of chelicerates, crustaceans, and insects.

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Phylum Arthropoda

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students sort arthropods into chelicerates, crustaceans, and insects. They use body sections, leg counts, and antennae to explain their choices.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student identifies a spider as a chelicerate by its eight legs and lack of antennae. They identify a crayfish by its two pairs of antennae and an insect by its six legs and three body sections.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call spiders insects because both have jointed legs. They may group pill bugs with insects or assume every insect has wings.
How to Assess It: Give students diagrams of a spider, crayfish, and ant with legs and antennae visible. Ask them to name each group and cite two traits for each diagram.

Lesson moves

Give pairs printed spider, crayfish, and grasshopper photos; have them circle legs and antennae, then sort the photos.
Ask why a horseshoe crab belongs with spiders rather than crabs; have students compare antennae and mouthparts in labeled diagrams.
Set out 12 arthropod picture cards; teams race to sort them, then explain one choice from each group.
Use tick and mosquito photos from a local health guide; have students write identification notes based on legs and antennae.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to ZOO.5.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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