Explore extraordinary immune adaptations across the animal kingdom through an engaging, research-based investigation.

Unlock your students’ curiosity with this high-interest, comparative immunology lesson that blends biology, evolution, and real-world medical relevance. Using a beautifully designed, interactive Google Slides activity, students explore how the immune systems of different species evolved, why some animals are immune to cancer, and how unique adaptations help organisms survive extreme environments.

Perfect for middle school life science, high school biology, anatomy & physiology, or evolution units, this lesson guides students through bite-sized explanations followed by a structured research task where they analyze scientific sources and communicate their findings.

This lesson is zero-prep, visually engaging, and requires only a device with internet access.

💡 What Students Will Do

✔ Learn the basics of immune system structure and function
✔ Explore the evolutionary timeline of immunity
✔ Compare immune adaptations in multiple species
✔ Investigate animals with extraordinary disease resistance
✔ Analyze population bottlenecks and immune diversity
✔ Complete a structured research task using real scientific sources
✔ Communicate findings clearly in writing or presentation form

🧬 What’s Included

• 22-slide Google Slides lesson (fully interactive)

• Clear visuals explaining the innate and adaptive immune systems

• Animal case-study slides (bats, elephants, opossums, condors, sharks, more!)

• Guided questions for analysis and comparison

• A structured research assignment with student-friendly prompts

• Teacher key

📘 Perfect For

• Middle School Life Science (advanced/honors)

• High School Biology

• Anatomy & Physiology

• Evolution & Natural Selection

• Animal Science or Zoology electives

• Sub plans, research days, or independent learning

🌍 Why Teachers Love This Lesson

This resource brings immunology to life by focusing on fascinating real-world examples students won’t forget. It builds research skills, reinforces evolution concepts, and encourages students to think like scientists — all while requiring zero prep from you.

❤️ You and your students will love this if you’re looking for:

• A visually rich, student-centered digital lesson

• An evolution tie-in that feels fresh and authentic

• A research task that develops scientific literacy

• A flexible activity usable in-person or online

• Something unique that stands out among biology lessons

Grade & Course Recommendations

Best fit:

• Grades 8–12

• Middle School Life Science (advanced or honors)

• High School Biology

• Anatomy & Physiology

• Biotechnology / Biomedical Science

• Zoology & Ecology electives

Why this span works:
The lesson requires comprehension of:
• innate vs. adaptive immunity (page 16)
• evolutionary timelines (pages 7–12)
• research-based writing (pages 13–17)

Middle schoolers can complete it with support; high schoolers can complete it independently and at depth.

Cross-Curricular Connections & Extensions

Cross-Curricular Connections

ELA

• Research-based writing

• Citing evidence from online scientific sources

• Explanatory writing and scientific justification

Social Studies / Anthropology

• Population bottlenecks

• Human impact on endangered species

• Evolutionary history of animals

Math / Data Science

• Interpretation of evolutionary timelines

• Use of comparative traits to make predictions

• Potential extension: graphing disease resistance across species

Health Science / CTE

• Applications to medicine and biotechnology (restriction enzymes, cancer resistance, wound healing, immune adaptations)

Possible Extensions

• Research Paper or Mini-Presentation
Students choose one organism from the lesson (pages 7–12) and prepare a short report or slideshow.

• Case Study in Zoonotic Disease
Using bats, condors, or rodents to explore host–pathogen interactions.

• Conservation Biology Connection
Investigating how population bottlenecks affect immune system variation (page 5).

• Biomedical Engineering Tie-In
Students explore how studying animal immunity informs tech such as:
– antimicrobial peptides
– wound healing materials
– cancer resistance genetics

• Class Debate or Socratic Seminar
Prompt: Should humans use biotechnology to “borrow” immune traits from other species?

Literacy - based exit ticket included with purchase

Join the Lesson Laboratory and Teach for Tomorrow!

NGSS Standards (CCC + SEP Included)

Middle School (MS-LS) Alignment

DCI:

• MS-LS1-1, MS-LS1-2, MS-LS1-3 (body systems & organismal defenses)

• MS-LS4-4, MS-LS4-6 (natural selection & evolutionary advantage)

SEPs:

• Analyzing & Interpreting Data (comparing animal immune traits, pages 7–12)

• Obtaining, Evaluating, Communicating Information (research task pages 13–17)

• Constructing Explanations (why certain species evolved exceptional immunity)

CCCs:

• Structure & Function

• Cause & Effect

• Stability & Change

• Patterns in evolution & immunity

High School (HS-LS) Alignment

DCI:

• HS-LS1-2: Body systems interact to maintain homeostasis

• HS-LS1-3: Feedback mechanisms & immune response

• HS-LS3-2: Genetic variation & population bottlenecks

• HS-LS4-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-3: Evolutionary relationships & evidence

• HS-LS4-4: Natural selection leads to adaptations

SEPs:

• Evaluating Claims & Evidence (selecting which animal has the most “interesting” immune system)

• Constructing Explanations from Research

• Engaging in Argument from Evidence (comparing species)

CCCs:

• Systems & System Models (immune systems as adaptive systems)

• Patterns (traits shared across species)

• Stability & Change (disease resistance through time)

Common Core ELA Standards

(appropriate for grades 7–12)

Reading Informational Text

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7-12.1 — Cite evidence

• RI.7-12.2 — Determine central ideas

• RI.7-12.7 — Integrate information from multiple sources

Writing

• W.7-12.2 — Explanatory writing

• W.7-12.7 — Research projects

• W.7-12.8 — Citing and gathering credible sources

Speaking & Listening

• SL.7-12.1 — Collaborative discussion

• SL.7-12.4 — Presenting claims coherently