Curated OER
Sorting Things Out
Written to examine seeds that grow in Kansas, you can adapt this lesson to anywhere you live. Learners sort a mixture of five different seeds to by any characteristic of their choice. When your budding scientists are exploring the life...
NOAA
Sediments
Calcareous ooze ... what an interesting name! The 15th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on sediments found on the ocean floor. After viewing the slideshow lecture,...
Allegany-Limestone Central School
Plantae WebQuest
Send your young life scientists on a plant webquest that has them reading case studies to decide if seeds are seeds and plants are plants.
National Wildlife Federation
Box Turtle Interview
Imagine life as a box turtle. Learners study the characteristics of box turtles and then assume the role in an interview. They show their understanding of how a box turtle lives by responding to a series of questions.
Curated OER
Vocabulary Development - Word Tiers
This lesson focusing on classifying vocabulary words as concrete, abstract, or content specific could best be used with older high schoolers and adults. A list of words and the classification chart is provided.
Curated OER
Classified Information - Part 1: Shapes
Third graders investigate how and why scientists use classification. They discuss classification strategies using animals, and as a class fill in a flowchart with their responses. Next, in small groups they cut out a variety of shapes...
Curated OER
Invertebrate Chordates
Most chordates are easy to identify because of the specific classification criteria of their phylum. But what about tunicates? Young scientists read a short explanation about why tunicates, or sea squirts, are considered to be members of...
Curated OER
Life Has A History
In this biology worksheet, students identify and match various classes of species found today. Then they explain why biodiversity exists today on earth and define evolution. Students also describe who a paleontologist is and what they do.
Curated OER
Classification
Fifth graders analyze the necessity of classification. They distinguish between living and nonliving things in our world and recognize the six life functions of living things by identifying 15 classroom objects.
Curated OER
Life Science Animal Worksheet: Mammals
In this animal classification practice worksheet, students examine the 6 pictured animals and identify the animals that are mammals.
Curated OER
Are You One Of Us?
Students discover how to classify things based on their similarities and differences. Students give the characteristics of insects and create a classification list. Given examples of various types of insects, students classify them...
Cmassengale
Bacteria: Structure and Function
For as small as they are, there sure is a lot of information for young scientists to learn about bacteria. Help simplify the subject with this instructional presentation that explores the structure, nutrition, and reproduction of...
New York City Department of Education
Myself and Others
Self reflection is an important skill to reinforce in our children, and it's especially helpful to help them realize who they are in the context of their environment. A collection of lessons about self image and community encourage...
Polar Trec
Arctic Smorgasbord!
Two blooms of phytoplankton, instead of just one, now occur in the Arctic due to declining sea ice, which will have widespread effects on the marine life and climate. In small groups, participants build an Arctic food web with given...
Biology Junction
Arthropods
Even the creepy crawlers have pretty amazing anatomy! A thorough lesson describes characteristics of arthropods with an emphasis on their structures. Beginning with a review of the taxonomy hierarchy, the lesson explains the different...
Super Teacher Worksheets
Mammal Scavenger Hunt Activity
Did you know that a polar bear's skin is actually black? Or that the lightest mammal weighs less than a paperclip? Young scientists learn these and other amazing facts about mammals as they explore the animal kingdom with...
Curated OER
Species Diversity and Phylogeny
Students explore the classification system of organisms: taxonomy. They examine prepared slides of Protozoans and record information on a Taxonomy Recording Sheet. Two additional classifying activities are also included in this lesson.
Curated OER
Classy
Students explore the classification system in this seven lessons unit. The diversity of life forms and their characteristics are examined using a microscope. Kingdoms, classes, and families are investigated.
Curated OER
Do You Have the Key?
Students practice using a dichotomous key. In this classification lesson, students read an article about scientific exploration and identification of new species. They use a dichotomous key to identify objects and create their own key.
Curated OER
Classifying Objects
Fourth graders work in small groups to sort and classify a variety of objects. They develop criteria for sorting and explain the characteristics they chose for classification. Groups record and share their classifications.
Curated OER
In the Field with Salamanders
Students observe salamanders, take pictures of them, and classify them into an online format. In this animal classification lesson, students use collection materials and digital camera to photograph and observe salamanders. Students...
Curated OER
Marshland Ecosystem
Students classify animals based on their physical characteristics and eating habits. In this animal identification lesson plan, students investigate the life forms shown on a Parisian ceramic basin, and discover ecosystem the...
Curated OER
Creepy Critters
Learners classify imaginary newly discovered organisms. In this classification activity, students are given cards showing imaginary organisms that have been recently discovered. They must classify the organisms based on their...
Curated OER
Classifying Living Things
In this classification worksheet, students read a description of how all living things are related and describe a diagram showing how this taxonomy works. Students answer five questions related to their reading.