Third graders investigate how and why scientists use classification. They discuss classification strategies using animals, and as a class fill in a flowchart with their responses. Next, in small groups they cut out a variety of shapes...

For this biosphere worksheet, students identify the different levels of organization that ecologists study. Students complete charts, sentences, and answer short answer questions.

Students examine groups of hierarchy and see how primates are categorized.  For this primate classification lesson students view video and slides then examine the taxonomy of primates. 

Students explore early hominid evolution as they analyze bones that share characteristics of both apes and humans. Students compare and contrast key skeletal differences between chimpanzees and humans. In groups, they sort and group a...

Students compare and contrast key skeletal differences between chimpanzees and humans: brain size, teeth, hand and thumb, trunk, pelvis, lower limb, foot and big toe. They then sort and group a set of mixed "fossil bones" of chimpanzee...

Middle schoolers classify imaginary newly discovered organisms. In this classification lesson, students are given cards showing imaginary organisms that have been recently discovered. They must classify the organisms based on their...

Ninth graders gain an understanding of organims based on charateristics. They study about Kingdom Animalia and use technology to present knowledge of phyla. Finally, they create a new animal species of their own. When others present,...

Young scholars explore diverse forms of life by using modern biological classification systems to group animals that are related. Students then study basic scientific groupings like genus, species, mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, and...

Students explore biology by creating a poster presentation. In this animal classification lesson, students utilize a SMART board and practice organizing a group of animal shapes by placing them with similar animal families. Students...

Students investigate various tree leaves and use a dichotomous key to classify the leaves. In this leaf classification lesson, students study various types of leaves and their Genus. Students record observations for each Genus.

Students construct a phylogenetic tree for various automobiles and trucks after considering important characteristics of these "organisms". They work in small groups to construct the trees and complete a set of questions then they...

In this animal grouping worksheet, students compare and contrast the characteristics of mammals, birds, and fish. This worksheet has 9 fill in the blank questions in a graphic organizer.

Students examine the common characteristics of household and lawn pests. They discover the life cycles of the pests. They also learn different ways to control the pests.

Students practice using a dichotomous key. In this classification lesson, students read an article about scientific exploration and identification of new species. They use a dichotomous key to identify objects and create their own key.

Students examine the three domains of life and explain that all living things share a common ancestor.  In this paleontology instructional activity students are introduced to the process of illustrating evolutionary...

Students distinguish between walking, jogging and running trackways in humans. They analyze the phylogenetic progression of the leg position as described by pace width and angulation, comparing amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Research...

Pupils examine biodiversity and classify organisms.  In this wildflower lesson students go out and take pictures of plants then create a presentation to show the class. 

Fifth graders examine two related organisms that live in different environments and compare how the physical characteristics of each organism provided it with survival advantages unique to its own environment.

Students analyze and discuss the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.  In this investigative lesson students monitor different organisms in the environment and analyze the pressures that affect the chances of survival. 

Introduce your class to characterization. Familiar story characters are sorted into "good" and "bad" categories based on the characters' personalites and actions in the story. The class discusses and describes characters they have read...

Using an assortment of hardware, junior biologists explore the theory of evolution. They consider how simple pieces of hardware might be changed into similar items and display their discoveries on a poster. The instructional activity...

Fourth graders work in small groups to sort and classify a variety of objects. They develop criteria for sorting and explain the characteristics they chose for classification. Groups record and share their classifications.

In this PowerPoint, students participate in a variation of tic tac toe in which questions about the animal and plant kingdom are presented and students move to various locations on the game board.

Students investigate how to classify items based on similar characteristics. They study the scientific system of classification.