Sea Star Dissection (3-D Dissection Model)

The Sea Star (3-D Dissection Model) helps students study echinoderm structure, starfish anatomy, and water vascular systems, while further exploring organ function and radial symmetry in a clean, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly way. Formerly a longtime favorite of the Getting Nerdy collection, now part of the Inside Out Science lineup. 

This sea star dissection model lesson includes a student-friendly reading that introduces in-depth echinoderm anatomy and physiology, black-line and color templates to support all learning levels, and a guided PowerPoint presentation that takes students step-by-step through coloring, cutting, and assembling their own realistic, reusable paper sea star. Created to mimic a real dissection, this Scienstructable 3-D paper model can be used as a dissection-free exploration, a pre-lab preparation tool, or a post-lab comparative anatomy assessment. Teachers value how it highlights echinoderm features such as tube feet, radial canals, and digestive systems, while students who opt out of traditional dissection enjoy a hands-on, authentic anatomy experience that’s kind to creatures and the planet.

All Inside Out Science models maintain a consistent organ color system and include templates for both sexes (where applicable), allowing students to visualize anatomical relationships, build comparative biology connections, and understand the essential relationship between structure and function in living organisms.

Reusable, humane, and beautifully detailed, this Sea Star Dissection Model lets students explore ocean life and learn from the inside out—one arm at a time. Furthermore, this model adheres to modern Three Rs standards (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), offering an eco-friendly and scent-free experience that accommodates students opting out of traditional dissections.

Included in this 5-7 day Dissection Lesson: 

• EDITABLE PowerPoint slides with bellwork, instructions, notes and embedded answer key to handouts
• NON-EDITABLE PDF handouts

→ Student-friendly guided reading PDF
→ Differentiated graphic organizers PDF
→ Sea Star Dissection Templates in BLACK LINE AND COLOR
→ Extension questions
→ Answer keys

• GOOGLE DRIVE ACCESS TO THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS

→ PowerPoint slides with bellwork, instructions, notes and embedded answer key to handouts
→ Student-friendly guided reading PDF
→ Differentiated graphic organizers PDF

Students will:

• Learn about the structures of the internal and external anatomy of the frog using the guided reading, color key and graphic organizer.
• Color, cut out and assemble a 3-D Scienstructable paper frog dissection model
• Complete extension questions

Part of a broader Vertebrate Dissection Series, featuring a universal color-coding system for easy comparative anatomy. Please see Eartworm, Grasshopper, Perch, Squid, Frog, Shark, Clam, Crayfish, Snake, Rat, Cat, Bird, Fetal Pig, Lamprey, Eye & Sponge. 

See also a collection of resources on sea stars in the NORINA database and books related to sea stars in the Textbase database. 

SKU: 00037
$15.95