Which makes a better name for a new species: Hermit Crab Caterpillar or Sir Leafs-a-Lot? Exploring a rainforest in Peru, the video helps viewers discover a unique species as part of a larger biology playlist. As scientists learn more about this caterpillar, it raises an important question: How is a species defined?

Concepts

rainforests, caterpillars, species, taxonomy, moths

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Assign one concept for defining a species to each pupil or groups of pupils and have them present their findings to allow for comparison

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of mitochondria and DNA
• Content lasts eight minutes, and the remaining portion of the video is an advertisement

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Offers closed captioning for the hearing impaired
• Highlights new vocabulary throughout
• Links current research to taxonomy study

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.6.2 SL.7.2 SL.8.2 SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.6-8.4 RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4