Summary Students look closely at a clam shell, then compare different sized clam shells to learn about how shells grow. Science content Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7) Biology: Classification of Living Things, Biodiversity (1, 3) Biology: Life Cycles (2) Lessons activity is in Clam study: the shell, the internal anatomy and how they feed Materials 1. Clam for each student (if a clam dissection is to follow, use a whole clam, otherwise one shell is fine). 2. Clam shells of the same species but different sizes. Enough for every student has access to 3 sizes. Procedure Hand each student a clam. Questions for discussion: 1. Close your eyes, and describe what you feel. 2. Is a plant or an animal? Do you know what animal it is? Where have you seen one before? 3. Point out that this clam is not alive. 4. You are an animal. Does it look like you? In what ways is it different? (This clam is a mollusc, an animal with a shell. You are a mammal). 5. What does the shell do? Discuss how the shell protects the clam from predators. Ask students to compare their clam with the other sized empty clam shells on their desks. Questions for discussion: 1. Which is the oldest shell and which is the youngest? How do you know? 2. Shells get larger as the animal inside them grows. The shell grows to fit the body. 3. Where is the new shell added? (on the outer edge - notice that this edge is soft). Grades taught Gr 1 Gr 2
