
Explore taxonomy and mammal characteristics, compare Pokémon mammals to real mammals, and examine how DNA and fossil evidence shape classification from domains to orders.
Explore the primate order through taxonomy and diagrams that show relationships, comparing monkeys, apes, prosimians, and human evolution; learn how forward-facing eyes, flat noses, and opposable thumbs define primates.
Explore six mammal orders, from the Kaluga to aardvarks and hyraxes, examining traits, habitats, and taxonomy. Learn how convergent evolution shapes similarities and why cladograms reveal relationships.
Explore Pokémon science: the order carnivore, comparing cat-like feliform and dog-like caniform suborders, their shared traits, key differences in snout and diet, with examples from tigers to domestic cats.
Explore dog-like and cat-like carnivores, focusing on scavenging carnivores, domestic dogs, wolves, bears, and pandas, with notes on selective breeding, ethics, and panda biology.
Explore aquatic mammals, from pinnipeds to dugongs and manatees, and see how anatomy and feeding strategies link walruses, sea lions, fur seals, true seals, baleen whales, toothed whales, dolphins.
Explore hoofed mammals, the even-toed ungulates, their herbivorous, four-legged design and ruminant digestion. See how DNA links whales to hippos, and how horns and antlers reflect convergence among bovines.
Explore the diversity of ungulates, focusing on odd-toed and even-toed hoofed mammals, including rhinoceroses, horses, zebras, and elephants, and learn how dichotomous keys classify them.
Develop a dichotomous key for five Pokémon bats using color, ears, nose, and tail to identify them. Compare fruit and carnivorous bats, explain echolocation, and note vampire bat parallels.
Explore rodents and lagomorphs through their defining features and Pokémon-inspired examples, noting four upper incisors, continuous incisor growth, and varied lifestyles from hopping lagomorphs to omnivorous rodents.
Explore marsupials' pouch-based development after short gestation, with opossum, kangaroo, and koala examples, and monotremes' egg-laying, platypus and echidna traits, including venom and electrode location.
Review the twelve mammal orders in the Pokémon mammals course, compare real mammal traits with Pokémon counterparts, and test understanding through Bakerman classification activities.
Mammals are classified into taxonomical groups called "orders." We'll study what traits and behaviors each order shares with the Pokémon we know and love. Students will learn how to compare and contrast these creatures when reading/listening to descriptions, examining pictures, and watching video clips of the fictional characters side by side with real mammals. We'll become pros at using a Venn Diagram as a comparison tool, and we'll try our hand at Dichotomous Keys and Cladograms. Students can also try their hand at designing their own mammalian Pokémon. Discussion questions, supplementary videos, and worksheets are all included in this course. Because the Pokemon creators love to use mammals as inspirations for their Pokemon creations, this course includes over 100 popular Pokemon and their origins! A great course for Pokemon fans who are interested in learning more about biology, taxonomy, and the tools scientists use to study animals.
Part 1: Introduction - Taxonomy, Classification Systems, Class Mammalia
Part 2: Primates (apes and monkeys)
Part 3: Dermoptera (flying lemurs), Hyracoidae (hyraxes), Insectivora (insect-eaters), Edentata (toothless mammals), Pholidata (pangolins), Tubulidentata (aardvarks)
Part 4: Carnivora
Part 5: Carnivora continued
Part 6: Cetacea, Sirenia, Pinnipedia (aquatic mammals)
Part 7: Artiodactyla (even-toed hoofed animals)
Part 8: Perissodactyla (odd-toed hoofed animals), Proboscidea (elephants)
Part 9: Chiroptera (bats)
Part 10: Rodentia (rodents), Lagomorpha (rabbits)
Part 11: Marsupialia (pouched animals), Monotremata (egg-laying mammals)
Part 12: Conclusion