Freshwater Mussels: Treasures Past and Present
Permanent exhibit
Science, Grades 1-12
Time required: 30-40 minutes
These little known but ecologically signficant animals of Tennessee waters illustrate many topics in the life sciences, including ecology, life cycles, symbiotic relationships, scientific classification, and human uses and impacts upon natural populations, including extinction. Students observe features of mussel shells and infer organism characteristics; watch a short life cycle video; and play the “Guess My Name” game with shells.
Tennessee Science Curriculum
Standard 1 – Cells; Standard 2- Interdependence; Standard 3- Flow of Matter and Energy; Standard 4 – Heredity; Standard 5 – Biodiversity and Change; Standard 7- the Earth
Specific grade level and course expectations:
- K – GLE 0007.1.1, .2.1, .3.3, .5.1
- 1 – GLE 0107.1.1, .4.1, .5.1, .5.2
- 2 – GLE 0207.1.1, .2.1, .3.1, .4.1, .5.1
- 3 – GLE 0307.2.2, .3.1, .4.1, .5.1, .5.2
- 4 – GLE 0407.2.1, .3.2, .4.1, .5.1, .5.2
- 5 – GLE 0507.2.1, .2.3, .3.1, .5.1
- 6 – GLE 0607.2.1, 2.3, .2.4
- 7 – GLE 0707.1.2, .1.3, .3.2, .4.1, .7.6
- 8 – GLE 0807.5.1, .5.3, .5.5
- Biology I – CLE 3210.2.3, .5.1, .5.2
- Biology II – CLE 3216.2.1., .2.2, .5.2, .6.2, .6.3
- Ecology – CLE 3255.1.1, .1.2, .3.2, .4.1, .5.3, .6.2
- Environmental Science – CLE 3260.2.5, .4.1, .4.4, 6.1, .7.1, .7.2