Tree of Life Teacher Resources

Mr. Khan explains with pictures and diagrams Carl Linneaus' taxonomy system and the biological tree of life. He mentions that the debate still continues regarding how to classify organisms and that newer technology that examines DNA is...

Groups of species can have more in common than meets the eye. An interactive cladogram shows some of the connections between important groups of species. Learners click on sections of the diagram to learn more about the connections or on...

Students 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...

Based on DNA, fungi relate more closely to animals than to plants. This new scientific knowledge shifted the world view of scientists and opened up new classifications. Viewers learn about fungi's place in evolution, in the tree of life,...

Is the other side of bacteria called fronteria? Introduce bacteria with a video that covers where it fits on the tree of life, the structure and functions of each part, the shapes and metabolism for various types of bacteria,...

As a review or note taking guide, this resource wraps up a unit on the tree of life. Biology bigwigs define phylogeny and answer questions about the subsequent classification of organisms. The activity takes a straightforward and orderly...

Scholars explore revolutionary relationships among organisms through phylogenetics. Using cladograms, or an evolutionary tree, the narrator shows viewers how organisms are created through morphological (analysis of number of heart...

First graders read stories and make observations about the life cycle of an apple tree. They write and illustrate expository text about apple trees and make applesauce.

Viewers explore vascular plants with a video that shows their different tissues, their ability to grow taller and wider, and their parts. Young scientists then see these plants xylem and phloem and learn how vascular plants move...

Students research environmental change and why forests cannot stay the same for long.  In this environmental growth lesson, students discuss the life cycle of a tree and examine tree cookies to discover the age of these specimens....

For this classification of life worksheet, students use an on line source to answer questions about how species are classified, named and grouped. They give the classification of a bear, an orchid and a sea cucumber.

In this science lesson, students look at how animals have traditionally been classified in a tree of life diagram by examining the characteristics of plastic eggs. They then analyze the genetic code assigned for each egg and look for...

This site from the University of Arizona provides a very thorough information on chrinoidea, including diagrams and pictures.