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Colors of our Earth
Students are introduces to soil profile classification. They remember that classification of soils is an important aspect of studying soils as it aids in predicting how soils react to weathering, transport nutrients or pollution. ...
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Dichotomous Key
Young scholars draw comparisons between organisms. They classify organisms. Students are introduced to dichotomous keys and how to create and use a dichotomous key to identify a variety of objects. They begin by defining classification,...
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Fish Sorting
In this classification worksheet, students are given nine pictures of different types of fish. They cut them out and use a key to classify each into a category based on their characteristics.
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Creating a Classification System
Students create classification system for Arctic-dwelling animals, the Arctic hare in particular.
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Invertebrates
Students examine invertebrates. In this animal classification lesson, students discuss invertebrates and bilateral symmetry. They discuss the importance of horse shoe crabs in medical science.
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Creative Classroom Creatures
Students are introduced to the five kingdoms and discover why there is a need for a classification system. Using the internet, they examine how scientific names are created and practice putting animals into their correct classification....
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Classification of Pasta, Rice and the Nine Planets
Eighth graders create a classification system of the planets and give a written rational for their choice of categories. In this investigative lesson students participate in an activity that helps them to explore classification.
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Classification
In this classification worksheet, students observe the fingerprints provided. Students decide upon a classification system to use to categorize the given fingerprints.
Mr. Jones's Science Class
Periodic Table Project
Don't be fooled by the title; this is not really a lesson on elements. It is a project on classification, using the periodic table as an example. For that reason, it could be used in any branch of science. As an example, a group may...
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Vertebrate Classification Challenge
Students determine which animals belong to the vertebrate phyla. In this classification lesson, students are given large papers with the names of the phyla of vertebrates. They must work together to place organisms into their correct...
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Unidentified (Flying?) Arthropods
Beginning biologists learn the characteristics of the five classes in the arthropod phylum. A student handout lists characteristics to help them identify five specimens. You will need to collect an example of each: arachnida, crustacea,...
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Evolution
Explore the concept of evolution and cell biology; your class can work in groups to use the internet to view websites on evolution, take a quiz, and complete a lab activity.
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Classification
Students gather and classify samples of a given item (rocks, fossils, seeds, etc.) They discuss various ways of classifying and that there are many different ways that are acceptable.
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Mystery Minerals
Students minerals and how they form. They investigate the classification of minerals according to physical properties. Students watch a video about mineral characteristics. In groups, students participate in hands-on activities and...
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Star Light, Star Bright: Exploring How Stars are Classified
In this star classification activity, students are given laminated star charts to make observations about stars. They work in groups to classify groups of stars based on different characteristics. For each group of stars they list at...
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Classifying Activity
In this classification worksheet, students classify items in two rooms into eight different groups by choosing different characteristics to classify items.
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2005 Grade 8 Science Released Test Questions
Here is a collection of 22 multiple-choice questions on topics from the physical and life sciences. Apparently they came from an 8th grade comprehensive science exam and have been released for public use. They may serve as a sufficient...
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The Five Kingdoms
An overview of the five kingdoms within the biological classification system is presented in this set of five slides. The first lists the objectives of the slide show, and the second gives general characteristics of plant, animal, and...
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Local Animal Sort
Students examine the concepts of sorting and classifying animal. They use familiar animals to determine the connections between physical characteristics and categorization.
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Memorable Ways to Cover the Periodic Table
An exploration of the periodic table can lead to a discussion of the scientific process and the ways that our knowledge of this topic evolves and grows.
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Birds and Mammals
Providing a higher-level thinking experience, this presentation provides an in-depth and interesting review of mammals. The terms used in the presentation give students a chance to be exposed to scientific classifications. There is also...
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Distinguishing Between Flowers
A branching key is a great way to classify different types of animals and plants! Fifth graders answer several yes/no answers about three different plants. They then create their own key to differentiate between an iris, a rose, and a...
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Animal Inventions
Students name the characteristics of animal groups. Students classify the major animal groups such as: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. They identify the elements of specific habitats that each animal needs in...
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What's Your Genus? Scientific Classification and the VT
Students understand the definition of binomial nomenclature. In this binomial nomenclature lesson, students classify ordinary animals by seeking their scientific names. Students participate in a knowledge hunt using binomial nomenclature.