Grades

Grades 4–5

Structures and Processes (4-LS1.A), (4-LS1-1), (4-LS1-2)

Grades 6–8

Structures and Processes (MS-LS1-4)

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics (MS-LS2-1), (MS-LS2-4)

Measurement and observation of the anatomical traits of California animal skulls reveal patterns and clues about them and how they interact with their environment. Features that are shared as well as those that are unique to a species reveal past and present adaptations to changing habitats. Students will explore a range of skulls and learn about the structure and function of their features.

Module Materials

Download all materials at once.

Animal Skull Morphology Materials

Download materials individually.

Educator's Guide

Skull Pictures

Student Worksheet

Reserve Discovery Kit

Animal Skull Morphology Discovery Kit

Check out a classroom kit and bring skull replicas and activities to your students. Inside this classroom kit, you’ll find skull replicas of at least one (1) carnivore, one (1) omnivore, and one (1) herbivore. In addition, twelve (12) laminated skull photos and answer sheets, ten (10) metal hand calipers, and everything needed to introduce students to examining animal skull structures and test their animal identification skills.

California Biodiversity

Animal Skull Morphology