Curated OER
Classification: Dichotomous Key
Students explain the classification process of organisms. In this biology lesson, students practice writing the names of organisms scientifically. They answer the dichotomous key and discuss answers as a class.
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.
Curated OER
The Value of a Garden
Students will work cooperatively. In this environmental lesson plan, students will start by discussing an article and its questions prior to receiving a handout. There are two versions of the handout depending if your students are AP or...
Curated OER
What is in a Name?
Students examine taxonomy and the use of dichotomous keys through two activities. They use a dichotomous key and create one of their own as well as create new scientific Family names for penguins using same word roots used by taxonomists.
Curated OER
How Plants Are Named
Here is an interesting set of slides that give some nice examples of the reasoning behind scientific Binomial Nomenclature. Some examples of scientific naming are given along with their common names. There is not much more detail on the...
National First Ladies' Library
How Do Flowers Get Their Names?
Young scholars study Carolus Linnaeus and his classification system of plants. They examine the origin of both both common and scientific names of flowers. They speculate how their favorite flowers came to be named and brainstorm about...
Curated OER
Pair the Plants: An Introduction to Scientific Names
Young scholars examine why plants have both common and scientific names, then complete the activity by matching each common plant name with its scientific name. They finish by working in cooperative groups to create an ABC of Plants...
Curated OER
Classifying Plants and Insects
Art and science come together in a lesson based on Flower Still Life by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. Learners classify plants and insects in the painting by color, leaf shape, size, reproduction, and season of bloom.
Curated OER
What's In A Name?
High schoolers create a binomial system of nomenclature for classifying organisms they encounter in a field trip to a natural history museum or from pictures in library books. They work in small groups to create accurate drawings and...
Curated OER
Classifying Critters
In this classifying critters worksheet, students read a 1 page article on classifying living organisms and then answer 10 true or false, short answer, multiple choice or fill in the blank questions.
Virginia Department of Education
A Dichotomous Key of Virginia’s Native Plants
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...
Curated OER
What Kind of Insect is That?
Fifth graders characterize insects and classify insects according to the Linnaean system. They use hand lenses or microscopes to examine insect body parts.
Curated OER
Where Do I Belong?
Tenth graders study the diversity of life in the world. They classify and sketch organisms into the 6 kingdoms.
Curated OER
Flight for Survival - Avian Adaptations
Students create imaginary creature that has some of the adaptations birds have.
Curated OER
What's in a Name?
Learners study the binomial system of naming organisms. They are given a name of an organism and they must draw a picture of what they think the organism looks like. Then they research the organism, find what it really looks like, and...
Curated OER
What's In A Name?
Young scholars explore the concept of the binomial system of nomenclature for classifying organisms. Students travel on a field trip to observe organisms displayed and their common names. Young scholars complete several classroom...
Curated OER
"For the Birds" [part I]
Students identify birds that appear in Chinese and Japanese art, learning about
their physical characteristics, classifying them according to scientific principles, and exploring their habitats and migration patterns. This is part one...