Curated OER
Freshwater Fish Anatomy & Taxonomy
Tenth graders use a classification key to identify organisms. In this classification instructional activity students identify freshwater species of fish and document their observations.
Curated OER
Classification: Dichotomous Key
Learners 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
Aquatic Ecosystem Exploration
Students visit a local stream, pond, creek, or river and collect macroinvertebrates. They sort macroinvertebrates and identify each species using a dichotomous key. Students decide on trophic levels and construct a possible food web for...
Michigan State University
Bug Lyphe!
Introduce ecology classes to biodiversity and interdependence in ecosystems with a PowerPoint presentation. Then, they get up-close and personal with the invertebrate world by collecting insects, classifying them, and graphing their...
Curated OER
Taxonomic Keys
Seventh graders create their own dichotomous key. In this biology lesson, 7th graders classify animals based on their observable features. They explain how to use their dichotomous key.
Curated OER
Create a Dichotomous Key of Idaho Reptiles
Young scholars use the reptile section of the Digital Atlas of Idaho. They make a dichotomous key and decide on what defining characteristics they can use to distinguish between species. They hone their observation skills and...
Biology Junction
Classification of Life
Did you know scientists identify more than 13 billion species of organisms, and they discover more almost every day? An interesting presentation demonstrates how scientists keep track of so many species. It also shows how they...
Curated OER
Classifying the Class
Fifth graders create dichotomous keys to create classifications of students in the classroom by writing instructions. In this classifications lesson plan, 5th graders learn how dichotomous keys are used in science observations.
Curated OER
Jewel of the Earth
Students investigate several organisms, set sticky traps to collect them, and attempt to identify and classify them using a variety of sources. The origins of the organisms are traced and their adaptive features examined.
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Exploration of "Pillbugs"
Fifth graders define vocabulary terms, identify the characteristics of a pillbug, and create a dichotomous key. Then they examine the pillbugs and make observations and record these observations. Finally, 5th graders observe specific...
Cornell University
The Making of Macromolecules
Compare and contrast macromolecules made from the same elements. Young scholars learn how the structure of a molecule has as much influence on a compound as the elements in the molecule. They experiment with molecular model kits to...
Curated OER
The Food Pyramid
Fourth graders plan a variety of nutritional meals using the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid as a reference and analyze food labels to plan their meals. They examine and discuss the Food Pyramid, and create dichotomous keys separating food...
Curated OER
Classify Machines that Fly!
Eighth graders explore flight and the dichotomous key. In this flight lesson, 8th graders gain understanding of the dichotomous key and create one of their own. Students then use their dichotomous key to classify types of aircraft.
Curated OER
Taxonomy
Biology novices name the seven levels of classification and use binomial nomenclature for naming living organisms. The first half of this presentation bestows a brief history of taxonomy, while the second half instructs on how to use our...
Curated OER
Bean Sort
Students define and discuss dichotomous keys. They create a dichotomous key to identify a bag of mixed beans, and assign their group of beans a genus and species name.
Curated OER
Simple Keys and Nutrition
An inventive and engaging lesson on nutrition, food groups, and the food pyramid is here for you. In it, young dieticians learn about the basics of nutrition. They use the book, Frog and Toad are Friends, to help them foster discussion...
Curated OER
Invertebrate Classification
Students discuss the recent disovery of the "furry lobster" to peak interest in the animal kingdom. They classify various speciments using invertebrate dichotomous keys, identifying major animal phyla and classes. Thy the complete the...
Curated OER
Keys To Trees: Dichotomous Tree Identification
Ninth graders gather samples of different tree leaves in their neighborhoods, and on school grounds, and identify several species of common South Carolina trees using leaf and growth characteristics with aid of dichotomous key.
Curated OER
Tree Identification
Students are introduced to the characteristics of trees and different techniques to identify them. They distinguish between a deciduous and a coniferous tree. Students describe at least four characteristics used to identify trees. They...
Curated OER
What's the Difference?
Young scholars analyze the similarities in different species. This instructional activity is part of a multi-segmented unit on the diversity of life. In this segment, students classify shoes to mimic the scientific categories of the...
Curated OER
Keys and Webs
Students explore and classify organisms found in a Rocky Mountain Ecosystem. Through discussions, students examine the effects upon an ecosystem if a component was removed or a new component was added. As a class, they survey reasons...
Curated OER
Classifying Rocks
Fifth graders examine and participate in the process of classifying rocks. In small groups, they sort the rocks into two categories and complete a Venn diagram. Next, they select three rocks, and complete a worksheet that is in the...
Curated OER
Insect Pitfall Traps
Students ask testable questions, use the inquiry cycle to investigate, gather data and interpret the results, study the diversity of insects and other smallorganisms which live around the school; they can make an inventory /collection of...
Curated OER
Life Cycle of Trees
Turn your learners into young tree-tectives with this fun science investigation into the life of trees. To begin, a class volunteer gets dressed up in a tree costume as the different parts of trees are introduced. Then, the class...