Rock out with the second installment of a five-part series on earth materials and processes. Your budding geologists make observations of given rock samples and posit classification systems for rocks. They then learn about the...

Students explore the game of life which refers to what happens to a species when most of the population is gone.  For this endangered species lesson, students describe what it means for a marine animal to be endangered. Students...

Seems like a fairly simple question—until you begin asking your class! Get pupils acquainted with the characteristics of life through pairs classification, discussion, and scientific reading. The lesson plan, part of the K20 series, also...

Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing instructional activity, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Students classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students...

Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...

Tenth graders use a classification key to identify organisms.  In this classification instructional activity students identify freshwater species of fish and document their observations. 

Junior biologists journey through the hiearchy of living things with these activites. Using a dichotomous key, they identify common algae, plants, and fish. They design their own key for a mixture of seeds and a collection of...

Imagine using a six-sided cube to encourage readers to analyze a topic in greater depth. Create a cube, label each of the six sides with one of Bloom's comprehension levels, and you're ready to launch a discussion of a text....

Young scholars solve a mystery of the identification of a unknown organism by comparing its morphological characteristics to those in a tree of life classification poster. They compare the observable characteristics of the specimen and...

Tenth graders explain how organisms are classified according to similarities. In this biology lesson, 10th graders research on five different organisms of their choice. They prepare a report and presentation about them which they share...

In this science worksheet set, students answer 14 short answer questions about the classification and adaptation of life in streams, rivers, and lakes. They also answer 15 questions about life "Where the Land Meets the Sea" and in a...

Students investigate the classification process and nomenclatures used for classifying organisms. They study dichotomous keys to identify organisms with 90% accuracy. Students organize information regarding the relatedness of species.

Young scholars contrast organisms and explore the similarities between different organisms.  For this classification lesson students view a video on classification and genetic code. 

Students describe what it means for a marine animal or fish to be threatened or endangered after playing game simulating extinction.

Taxonomy is the study of organisms and how you phylum. Three biology activities are included, helping scholars understand four of the six kingdoms, specifically Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia. Scholars observe and classify...

What a terrific lesson! Learners discuss the animal kingdom, and classify them as vertebrates and invertebrates. They also identify them as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. There is even a taxonomic breakdown of popular...

Upper elementary and middle schoolers use their observation skills to group different kinds of candy by similar characteristics. They debate whether or not we should classify objects. Finally, they learn that biologists have developed a...

Emerging ecologists need a full understanding of life, from the inner workings of a cell to the complex relationships among organisms. This examination is meant to assess high schoolers after an entire year of courses on the living...

Can your class correctly classify plant species? Individuals explore native plants of the local environment and correctly classify them into their respective categories. They investigate differences in the plants and discuss similarities...

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.

Explorers of the environment construct a dichotomous key for a variety of organisms and design a key to classify Galapagos animals based on descriptions and images. The lesson plan includes a link to an animal gallery and the worksheet...

Students learn about binomial nomenclature, the scientific system of classification. For this scientific classification lesson, students work cooperatively to complete a binomial scavenger hunt using the internet and a Visual Thesaurus....

Students examine and analyze a poster that presents various types of animals throughout the ages. They determine biological classification with fossils and earth history in a game.

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.