Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Animals

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine two-way classification systems using four mutually exclusive groups and two dimensions simultaneously. They then are given a set of plastic animals, asked to create a two-way classification system, then asked to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Classification

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders design a classification system to categorize animate and inanimate objects. They discuss the advantages of grouping things as they classify buttons, leaves, shells.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Cerealites

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a dichotomous key. In this categorizing lesson, students create a dichotomous key for different types of cereal. Students classify the cereal into groups such as flakes and cereal with holes. Students discuss their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Curiosity Cabinet to Museum Collection

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners study binomial nomenclature and museum-based research. They create a curiosity box, label the objects in their curiosity box , develop a classification scheme for the objects, and create a database of all objects collected by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Animal Sort

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars examine the concepts of sorting and classifying animal. They use familiar animals to determine the connections between physical characteristics and categorization.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Around-The-World-Zoo

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Junior biologists design and maintain a website about a zoo by researching, classifying, and providing the correct habitats for the animals they choose to have in their zoo. This technology-based project can last over an entire semester...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Your Classification

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners classify animals. In this animal groups instructional activity, students watch a video on animal groups and review the six animal groups. Learners practice classifying animals using stuffed animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

4th Grade Life Science Unit: Animals

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders classify animals. For this animal kingdom lesson, 4th graders research animal habitats and behaviors. Students connect to a zoologist via SKYPE and learn about animal classification. Students blog about preserving animal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pair the Plants: An Introduction to Scientific Names

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners 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 class book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals, Animals, Everywhere

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a variety of activities dealing with animal characteristics and classifications in this multi-task lesson. They use graphic organizers, make booklets, and make models.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification, Keys, and Phylogenetci Trees

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students analyze relationships about animals and create a model of classifications based on both the similarities and the differences. They also discuss a dichotomous key before they create a cladograph using different types of candy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animals, Soil, Trees

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe the various kinds of soils and how plants and animals are affected by them. They describe the baic needs of plants, scoring at least a 3 or 4 on a 4-point rubic. Students are able to predict and/or infer what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Evolutionary Questions: Bats, Whales, Reptiles, Birds, Animal Classification

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students are guided through a process in which three questions are addressed by retrieving beta hemoglobin sequences from online databases, and using online tools to compare those sequences in student-selected animals.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Animal, Insect, and Bird Classification

For Teachers 2nd
After completing a unit on animal classification and attending a field trip students e-mail a trusted adult with some information about animal classification. They detail what they have learned about classifications of animals, insects...
Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section One: What is Biodiversity?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Four intriguing and scientific activities invite learners to explore the natural resources of their town. The activities cover concepts such as genetic traits, organizing species in a taxonomy, the differences between different species...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Lives Here?

For Teachers K - 12th
Learners identify various aquatic wildlife species. In this biology instructional activity students collect clues about animals that live in wetland habitats. Learners rotate through several stations displaying particular animal species...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Your Genus? Scientific Classification and the VT

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students understand the definition of binomial nomenclature. For this binomial nomenclature lesson, students classify ordinary animals by seeking their scientific names. Students participate in a knowledge hunt using binomial nomenclature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Kingdoms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the various categories in taxonomy. In groups, they identify the characteristics of each kingdom and compare and contrast them. They define the terms binomial nomenclature and morphology. To end the activity, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taxonomy

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners work together to identify groups of endangered animals. Using a pamphlet, they group the pictures according to specific criteria and cut the pictures out and color them. They place the animals in the correct habitat and share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Species Diversity and Phylogeny

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of the Nearby Trees

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders practice using classification techniques to identify local trees.  In this plant life instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss how trees differ from other plants and what characteristics are unique to trees alone....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Classroom Creatures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification 2: A Touch of Class

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how many kinds of living things (e.g. plants and animals) can be sorted into groups in many ways using various features to decide which things belong to which group and that classification schemes vary with purpose.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Groups

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore animal groups. In this animal science lesson, students use pictures from magazines and classify the animals into five categories. Students share why they categorized the animals the way they did.