What makes an animal? This NGSS-aligned high school biology and zoology unit serves as Unit 1 in a full-year zoology curriculum while also functioning as a strong stand-alone biology or life science unit on animal classification, biodiversity, adaptations, and the shared traits that unite all animals. Designed for Biology, Zoology, or Life Science, this inquiry-driven unit helps students explore how animal structure and function connect to survival, evolution, and ecosystem diversity through