Paleo Journey

To fully understand the immense importance of invertebrate animals, audiences are invited to embark on a captivating journey back in time to the dawn of the animal kingdom. This unique program will allow participants to explore the evolutionary history of invertebrates, comparing the bugs of today to their ancient counterparts.

By the end of this enriching program, participants will have a profound appreciation for the ancient origins and enduring significance of invertebrate animals. They will leave with a deeper understanding of the evolutionary processes that have shaped life on Earth and a renewed sense of wonder for the diverse and intricate world of invertebrates, both past and present.

Through a series of engaging activities and interactive experiences, participants will:

• Travel Through Time: Step into a time machine and journey back hundreds of millions of years to the prehistoric era. Discover the earliest invertebrates that roamed the seas and land, from trilobites and ancient arthropods to the ancestors of modern insects, arachnids, and mollusks.

• Fossil Exploration: Examine real and replica fossils of ancient invertebrates to gain insights into their forms and structures. Learn about the fossilization process and how scientists use these preserved remains to reconstruct the past and understand evolutionary trends.
• Comparative Anatomy: Through hands-on activities, participants will compare the anatomy of ancient invertebrates with that of contemporary species. They will explore similarities and differences, understanding how these creatures have adapted and evolved over time to survive in changing environments.
• Evolutionary Milestones: Discover key evolutionary milestones in the history of invertebrates, such as the development of exoskeletons, segmentation, and specialized appendages. Learn how these innovations contributed to the incredible diversity and success of invertebrates throughout Earth’s history.
• Ecological Impact: Explore the ecological roles of ancient invertebrates and how they shaped early ecosystems. Understand the critical functions they performed, such as nutrient cycling, soil formation, and the establishment of food webs, and how these roles have persisted and evolved over time.

• Modern Connections: Connect the past to the present by investigating how modern invertebrates continue to play essential roles in our ecosystems. Learn about their contributions to pollination, decomposition, and food production, and discuss the ongoing importance of conserving invertebrate biodiversity.

Learning Objectives:

• Awareness: Invertebrates have been important players in the evolution of the animal kingdom across the Earth’s history.
• Compassion/Empathy: Invertebrates were really cool a long time ago and they still are today!
• Empowerment: Invertebrates are the base of all ecosystems, and protecting them means protecting all of us.

Addressing Misconceptions:

• Vertebrates were always bigger than invertebrates.
• Vertebrates evolved before invertebrates. 
• Vertebrates are more important than invertebrates.